Send Gift Baskets to Turnhout, Belgium

Turnhout was founded on the crossroads of two major trade routes and protected by the hunting castle of the Dukes of Brabant, which appears to have existed since 1110. This hunting past is still reflected in the city’s coat of arms. Around 1212, Henry I, Duke of Brabant, granted the small community its Libertas as a “free city.” It was awarded the privilege of organizing a Saturday market in 1338. A traveler described the well-built houses and paved roads in 1466 and noted five churches.

Turnhout had become a thriving commercial center by the 16th century. In the final decades of the century, there was war, fire, confiscation, and epidemics. Due to suppression and inquisition, many progressive citizens fled to the Dutch Republic, leaving Turnhout impoverished. Throughout Turnhout’s history, there have been ups and downs. Turnhout and its surroundings were often a playground for armies, resulting in two significant battles named after the city: one in 1597 and one in 1789.

Turnhout fell south of the new Dutch border when Belgium became independent in 1830. 1846 saw the canal digging, and 1855 saw the railroad construction during the peace period between 1831 and 1914.

The linen trade and weaving of bedding articles were essential industries in Turnhout during the late Middle Ages. These trades were replaced by industries based on paper use at the beginning of the 19th century. Philippus Jacobus Brepols and Pieter Corbeels are considered the founders of this industry. Many of these industries are still present in Turnhout today. The region is home to numerous graphics companies, such as Brepols, Group Joos, Proost International Book Production, Van Genechten Packaging, and Cartamundi, the world’s leading playing card manufacturer. There is also a Belgian Centre for Graphics Industry and a Flemish Innovation Center for Graphic Communication (Campus Blairon) in Turnhout. The company, headquartered in Turnhout, is one of the world’s leading sealant manufacturers.