Lommel

Lommel is a municipality and a city in the Belgian province of Limburg. The Kempen city has about 34,000 inhabitants and is part of the electoral district and the judicial district Lommel Neerpelt.

Besides residential town of Lommel also has a number of nature reserves, such as the nature reserve De Watering, the Lommel Sahara, and numerous forests and heathlands. Lommel is the third shopping city in Belgian Limburg with a commercial and shopping center De Singel. Importantly, the silver sand that is mined here for the benefit of the glass industry. Some sand mining quarries are transformed into nature reserves and recreational areas, including Lommel Sahara.

The city of Lommel is the watershed of the basins of the Scheldt, and Meuse, and within these basins Nete Dommel respectively.

Language
The dialect of Lommel is, despite its location in Limburg, part of the East Brabantian, not the Limburgish dialects, reflecting the particular history of the city.

Etymology
The name comes from Lommel Loemelo. Loem means moist, swampy and Lo is forest or woodland.

Demographic development
All historical data relating to the current municipality, including towns such as arose after the merger of January 1, 1977.

Structure
The city of Lommel is located in the electoral district Neerpelt (which is identical to the county district Neerpelt) and the electoral district Hasselt Tongeren-Maaseik (same as the constituency constituency of Limburg).

List of mayors of Lommel

 * 1808 – 1813: Joannes Aerts, Catholic
 * 1813 – 1847: William Karel Koek Court, Catholic
 * 1847 – 1857: Jan Daels, Catholic
 * 1857 – 1861: Jan Van Leemput, Catholic
 * 1861 – 1863: Henry Alen, Catholic
 * 1863 – 1872: Peter Slegers, Catholic
 * 1872 – 1879: Peter Stevens, Catholic
 * 1879 – 1885: Jan Alen, Catholic
 * 1885 – 1890: Jan Vanden Boer, Catholic
 * 1891 – 1904: Peter Senders, Catholic
 * 1904 – 1921: François Van Ham, Catholic
 * 1921 – 1923: John Bouly, Catholic
 * 1924 – 1927: Peter Joosten, Catholic
 * 1927 – 1941: Joseph Tournier, liberal Catholics
 * 1941 – 1944: Peter Luykx, Flemish nationalist
 * 1944 – 1945: Joseph Tournier, liberal Catholics
 * 1945 – 1958: Henri Van Reempts, Catholic
 * 1959 – 1979: René Verhoeven, Catholic
 * 1979 – 1988: Staff Matthijs, Catholic
 * 1989 – 2006: Louis Vanvelthoven, socialist
 * 2007 – 2018: Peter Vanvelthoven, socialist
 * 2019–present: Bob Nijs, Catholic

Results municipal elections since 1976
seats formed coalition  'bold'  printed

Sporting events
Since 2017 the European Open a Snooker ranking tournament of the World Snooker Tour took place in Lommel.

Lommel is home to the Belgian Motocross Grand Prix, part of the Motocross World Championship. The track at Lommel is among the most famous in the motocross world and is known for its deep and unforgiving sand surface. Notable motocross racers such as Jeffrey Herlings and Ryan Villopoto have said that Lommel is the most physically demanding motocross track to ride in the world, and many top European motocross riders live in or around the city to hone their skills at the track.

Notable people

 * Kevin Hulsmans, road bicycle racer
 * Peter Luykx, federal representative
 * Peter Maes, former footballer, coach of Sporting Lokeren
 * Roy Meeus (born 1989), professional footballer
 * Wim Mennes, footballer
 * Pieter Mertens, road bicycle racer
 * Steve Ramon, motocross world champion
 * Kathleen Smet, triathlete
 * Dirk Swartenbroekx, DJ Buscemi
 * Johan Vansummeren, road bicycle racer
 * Marcel Vanthilt, musician, TV presenter
 * Louis Vanvelthoven, honorary-mayor, former chairman of the Flemish Parliament
 * Peter Vanvelthoven, mayor, former Belgian Minister for Employment and Informatisation
 * Steven Van Broeckhoven, windsurfer, two-time champion on the European Freestyle Pro Tour
 * Stefano Marzo, footballer