# Tildonk

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**Tildonk** is a village located in the [Belgian](/source/Belgium) province of [Flemish Brabant](/source/Flemish_Brabant)[1] and, since 1977, is part of the [municipality](/source/Municipalities_of_Belgium) of [Haacht](/source/Haacht), together with [Wespelaar](/source/Wespelaar), [Wakkerzeel](/source/Wakkerzeel) and [Kelfs](/source/Kelfs). It has a total area of 7.31 km².

## History

Traces of civilization have been found from the period of around 3000 BCE between the hamlet Hambos and adjacent Kelfs. Later there was a [Gallic](/source/Gaul) settlement at about the same location. The oldest mention of Tildonk occurred in 1107 in the family name of Reinerus de *Thieldunck*.

The name *Tildonk* is the joining of 2 medieval words: *til* (forest) and *donk* (elevation). During the 12th century the knights van Tildonk, pledged to the [Duke of Brabant](/source/Duke_of_Brabant), lived in two [mottes](/source/Motte-and-bailey): Oudenborg and Nieuwenborg (where the current Kasteeltje is located). Tildonk was elevated to the title of [county](/source/Count) in 1699 as part of the fiefdom of Charles L'Archier. Later it came into the hands of the noble [house of Lalaing](/source/Lalaing_family#Counts_of_Lalaing-Thildoncq). Count Maximilian de Lalaing was the most prominent de Lalaing lord of Tildonk.

Since 1750, Tildonk is traversed by the [Leuven](/source/Leuven)-[Rupel](/source/Rupel) canal and, since 1837, by the [Mechelen](/source/Mechelen)-Leuven railroad line.

In 1821, the priest Joannes Cornelius Martinus Lambertz started the [Ursulines](/source/Ursulines) convent that later became the "mother convent" of numerous new institutions spread over 4 continents. The convent was renowned for its international school. The stylish [Art Nouveau](/source/Art_Nouveau) hall for parties was used as a setting in various films.

## Protected cultural heritage

- The village centre (convent, church, cemetery, rectory)
- The [lock](/source/Canal_lock) and lock house
- The farm of de Lalaing (Kasteeltje)
- The Our Lady of Comfort Chapel (Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Troostkapel)

## Coat of arms

In 1967, the municipality of Tildonk took over the escutcheon of the noble family de Lalaing: *an oval escutcheon of gules with 10 united diamonds of silver, placed 3, 3, 3 and 1, the escutcheon held by two golden griffins looking backwards, topped with a crown of 3 fleurons separated by 3 groups of 3 pearls*.

## Further reading on Tildonk

Gordts J., *Tilloenk vruger*, Tildonk, 2006.

## References

1. ["Google Maps"](https://www.google.com/maps/place//@50.933333,4.633333,12z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0!5m1!1e4?hl=en)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tildonk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tildonk) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tildonk?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.