Olmen

Village in Flemish Region

Olmen

Village

Saint Willibrord Church

Olmen

Location in Belgium

Coordinates: 51°08′28″N 5°09′03″E﻿ / ﻿51.14119°N 5.15079°E﻿ / 51.14119; 5.15079
Country|  Belgium
Region| Flemish Region
Province| Antwerp
Municipality| Balen
Area

[1]

• Total

| 17.03 km2 (6.58 sq mi)
Population

(2021)[1]

• Total

| 3,788
• Density| 220/km2 (580/sq mi)
Time zone| CET

Olmen is a village in the province of Antwerp, Belgium. The village is part of the municipality of Balen.

Olmen is known in the area for its Carnival, which still follows medieval traditions.

## History

[edit]

The village was first mentioned as Olmele in 1288. Olmen was an independent heerlijkheid and an agricultural community. In 1977, the municipality was merged into Balen.[2]

## Carnaval

[edit]

Further information: Carnival § Belgium

The Carnaval in Olmen does not have a parade, but is celebrated with the medieval Hanenkappen. The person who manages to decapitate the rooster becomes the king of its party.[3]

## Zoo

[edit]

Bear and wolves resting in Pakawi Park

The Pakawi Park is a zoo in the village which specializes in felidae. The zoo used to be called Olmen Zoo, but was closed in 2017, due to animal welfare breaches. The owner and employees fixed most of the problems and at least tripled the living quarters of the animals. The zoo reopened on 22 June 2019 as Pakawi Park.[4]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Bevolking per statistische sector - Sector 13003B". Statistics Belgium. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
2. ^ "Olmen". Agentschap Onroerend Erfgoed (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 October 2020.
3. ^ "Carnaval zoals in de Middeleeuwen: dit moet je weten over het hanenkappen in Olmen". Gazet van Antwerpen (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 October 2020.
4. ^ "Olmense Zoo wordt Pakawi Park: "Vroeger zaten we op de norm of net eronder, nu ruimschoots erboven"". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 October 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Olmen at Wikimedia Commons

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