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This article is about Belgian municipality Malle. For French film maker Malle see: Louis Malle

Coordinates: 51°17′N, 04°41′E

Malle
Geography
Country	Belgium
Community	Flemish Community
Region	Flemish Region
Province	Antwerp
Arrondissement	Antwerp
Coordinates	51°17′N, 04°41′E
Area	51.99 km²
Population (Source: NIS)
Population – Males – Females - Density	14,083 (01/01/2006) 50.04% 49.96% 271 inhab./km²
Economy
Unemployment rate	5.05% (01/01/2006)
Mean annual income	13,683 €/pers. (2003)
Government
Mayor	Harry Hendrickx (DBM)
Governing parties	DBM, CD&V, GRIM
Other information
Postal codes	2150
Area codes	03
Web address	www.malle.be

Malle is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Oostmalle and Westmalle. On January 1, 2006 Malle had a total population of 14,083. The total area is 51.99 km² which gives a population density of 271 inhabitants per km².

Contents 1 History 1.1 Early history 1.2 Separation of Malle 1.3 16th to 18th century 1.4 Modern era 2 Tourism 3 Twin towns 4 Economy 4.1 History 4.2 Modern era 5 Notable inhabitants 6 Evolution of inhabitants 6.1 After merger 7 References 8 See also 9 External links

The origin and meaning of the word Malle is not certain: an extended plain, border or stop on the one hand, but more probably a place which was used by the Franks for legal matters. A Mallum was a general court session presided by the count^[1]. In Celtic, the name O Maoileoin, means a devotee of St. John.

A record of the name Malle emerges for the first time in 1194, when the bishop of Kamerijk donates the altar of Malle and Vorsele to the Chapter of Our Kind Lady of Antwerp. Originally Oostmalle, Westmalle and Zoersel were joined into one domain: Malle, which was part of the County Toxandria.

The origin of Oostmalle dates back to the Roman era, when a settlement was built along the Roman road from Trajectum ad Rhenum (Utrecht) to Bavay (now approximately the Lierselei and the Hoogstraatsebaan).

During the Middle Ages (476-1492), Oostmalle was part of the Duchy of Brabant, governed by lords like Jan Van Hesselbeke and Jan Volckaert (around 1300). The lower feudal rights belonged to the House of Breda, the higher rights belonged to the Duke of Brabant.

Westmalle existed before 1100, when the place of residence (Mansus) of the representative (Villicus or Meier) of the Duke of Brabant was mentioned already. The history of Westmalle Castle reflects the history of the governing families of Westmalle. Henry I, Duke of Brabant granted some feudal rights to the abbot of the Abbey of Villers on the condition that a monastery would be built in Westmalle. However the monastery was built in Hemiksem instead.

In the first half of the 13^th century Malle was separated when the County of Strijen was divided; Oostmalle came to belong to the County of Breda, Westmalle and Zoersel remained with the Duchy of Brabant. Westmalle was governed by a local Meier belonging subsequently to the families van der Moelen, de Cotereau en Powis and also by the Abbot of the Abbey of Villers. About 1300 the feudal rights of Oostmalle were divided between Jan van Hesselbeke and Jacobus van Dworp. Jan Volkaert I, was married with the daughter of the Jan van Hesselbeke. He owned half of the feudal rights of Oostmalle, while the other half was owned by his brother-in-law Jacob van Couree^[2]. Later on the feudal rights went to the Lords of Berchem. Between 1431 and 1464 Willem van Berchem built a castle in Oostmalle. By the end of the 16^th century, from 1602 onwards, during the entire Ancien Régime, all feudal rights of Oostmalle belonged to the family van Renesse (French: de Renesse), descendants of Jan van Renesse.

Almost continuously the Campine villages was plundered and besieged; foreign troops caused severe havoc, and also brought with them diseases such as the Bubonic plague. Oostmalle suffered most from the plague between 1575 and 1605.

In 1542, during the wars of Charles of Guelders against Charles V, Oostmalle and the Castle de Renesse were destroyed by the troops of Maarten van Rossum. The entire region suffered severely during the Eighty Years War, between the protestant north of the Low Countries and the Spanish-controlled Southern Netherlands.

During the eighties of the 16^th century, only 23 families survived in Westmalle and they had to hide for four years at Westmalle Castle because of the Spanish troops, which were ravaging the region. During the 17^th century the region suffered from several attacks from the Dutch Republic. Around 1620, Croatian (In old Flemish: Krawaten) soldiers of the Spanish army occupied Malle. In 1626 a Chapel of Saint Anthony was built in Salphen for people from Oostmalle who fled their village to escape the plague. At the end of the 17^th century, during the Dutch War (1672–1678) Westmalle was almost entirely burned to ashes.

At the start of the 18^th century, the region suffered during the War of the Spanish Succession when French troups occupied Malle in 1703. Following the French Revolutionary Wars the Austrian Netherlands were invaded and annexed by the First French Republic in 1792. Shortly after the invasion of the French army, an epidemic of dysentery hit Malle.

After the defeat of Napoleon I of France in 1814, Cossacks occupied Malle and plundered the village. Only after the Dutch rule during the period of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands (1815-1830) and the establishment of the kingdom of Belgium, came a period of increasing prosperity for the region. In 1885 Oostmalle became the center for the Tram network of the region, which would last until 1962. During World War I and World War II Malle escaped from severe damage. On 25 June 1967, Oostmalle was hit by a tornado which destroyed the church and 135 houses.

On 1 January 1977 Oostmalle and Westmalle were reunited, first under the name Westmalle, and since 30 June 1979 under the original name Malle.

Important curiosities of Malle are the Trappist Abbey of Westmalle and its brewery, the Castle de Renesse, the Scherpenberg mill, Westmalle Castle which dates back to 1100, and the Castle of Blommerschot. The Chapel of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Dutch: Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Bijstand) at the Herentalsebaan, was built by Leonard Pierre Joseph du Bus de Gisignies in 1837. In 1930 a Lourdes cave was added to the chapel (inaugurated on 7 May 1933), and in 1934 a Stations of the Cross was added in remembrance of King Albert I of Belgium (sculptor was Simon Gossens).

Malle has three churches, the Church of Saint Lawrence (Dutch: Sint Laurentius, Oostmalle), the Church of Saint Paul (Dutch: Sint Paulus, Westmalle) and the Church of Saint Martin (Dutch: Sint Martinus, Westmalle). The most important local festivity is the so-called "Salphenkermis" in the hamlet Salphen, with a procession devoted to Saint Anthony.

The forests of s Herenbos, Molenbos, Bruulbergen, and Schrabbenbos are worth a visit.

Malle is linked to the following towns as twin towns, also known as partner towns:

•  France: Saint-Savin
•  Germany: Heusenstamm
•  Poland: Zakrzówek
•  United Kingdom: Hartley Wintney

Malle is located in the Campine (Dutch: Kempen) region, which in old times was not densely populated, and consisted of enormous heaths and marshlands, interrupted by woods and fenlands. Since the Middle Ages the waste lands of the Campine have been cultivated.

Until the 18^th century Oostmalle was known for his (black) pottery, such as "Lollepotten" which were little stoves used for personal heating in winter.

Nowadays, Malle is a regional economic centre. It is home to several companies, such as ETAP Lighting, ETAP Yachting, Ecover, and Meubelfabrieken Karel Mintjens (which belongs to the TOP500 of the Belgan Companies).

• May Claerhout, sculptor
• Viscount Leonard Pierre Joseph du Bus de Gisignies (1780-1849)
• Maria Rosseels (1916-2005), journalist and writer
• Joris Van Eyndhoven, bass player in Charlene Dice

Jaar	1977	1980	1985	1990	1995	2000	2005	2006
Inhabitants	9798	10.520	11.353	12.096	13.301	13.922	14.150	14.083
Remark:Inhabitaints on 01/01 - Bron:NIS

1. ^ Francis N. Estey,The Meaning of Placitum and Mallum in the Capitularies, Speculum, Vol. 22, No. 3 (Jul., 1947), pp. 435-439
2. ^ Th. de Molder, Geschiedenis van Oostmalle, Turnhout, 1947

• Monasterium Magnificat

• (Dutch) Official website
• (Dutch) Heemkundige kring Malle (Study of the history of Malle)
• (Dutch) Tourism
• (Dutch) Land van Playsantiën
• Map

	Municipalities in the Province of Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium
Antwerp: Aartselaar | Antwerp | Boechout | Boom | Borsbeek | Brasschaat | Brecht | Edegem | Essen | Hemiksem | Hove | Kalmthout | Kapellen | Kontich | Lint | Malle | Mortsel | Niel | Ranst | Rumst | Schelle | Schilde | Schoten | Stabroek | Wijnegem | Wommelgem | Wuustwezel | Zandhoven | Zoersel | Zwijndrecht |
Mechelen: Berlaar | Bonheiden | Bornem | Duffel | Heist-op-den-Berg | Lier | Mechelen | Nijlen | Putte | Puurs | Sint-Amands | Sint-Katelijne-Waver | Willebroek
Turnhout: Arendonk | Baarle-Hertog | Balen | Beerse | Dessel | Geel | Grobbendonk | Herentals | Herenthout | Herselt | Hoogstraten | Hulshout | Kasterlee | Laakdal | Lille | Meerhout | Merksplas | Mol | Olen | Oud-Turnhout | Ravels | Retie | Rijkevorsel | Turnhout | Vorselaar | Vosselaar | Westerlo |