| Arms | Blason ville be Duffel.svg |
|---|---|
| Province | Antwerp |
| Arrondissement | Mechelen |
| Nis | 12009 |
| Mayor | Sofie Joosen (N-VA) |
| Majority | N-VA, CD&V |
| Postal-codes | 2570 |
| Telephone-area | 015, 03 |
| Web | www.duffel.be |
| Coordinates | 51°06′N 04°31′E |
Duffel (ˈdʏfəl) is a municipality in the Belgian province of Antwerp.
The municipality comprises the town of Duffel proper. On 1 January 2020, Duffel had a total population of 17,664. The total area is 22.71 km2, which gives a population density of 778 inhabitants per km2.
The area is the eponym of a coarse woollen cloth, manufactured in this area from the 11th century, mainly used to make blankets, outdoor (army) coats and tote bags. Duffel became a household name during and after World War II in the meaning of a coat designed with toggle-and-loop fastening and roomy hood.[1]
The etymology of Duffel is from "dubro" and "locus", from the Gaulish dubrum, dubron – "water".
In 1836, the Duffel railway station opened on the Brussels-North to Antwerp railway line.[2]
Duffel cloth
The town gives its name to a type of heavy woolen cloth generally used to make blankets and overcoats, especially for the armed forces, and a type of luggage.[3] In the Middle Ages, an important part of the region's industry was the manufacturing of Flemish laken (a broadcloth), while the cloth produced in Duffel was a thicker variation. The manufacturing process was brought to England by Flemish emigrants in the 1500s.[4] The name for the cloth was so well-known, a type of overcoat made from the cloth and manufactured in England received the name Duffel coat.[5][6]
Notable natives
- Jan Van Der Roost, composer
- Kevin De Weert, cyclist
- Andreas Pereira, footballer
- Metejoor, singer
- Cornelis Kiliaan (1528–1607), lexicographer and poet
- Hendrik Hondius I (1573–1650), engraver, cartographer and publisher
- Rocky Bushiri, footballer for Hibernian FC
- Gaëtan De Knyff, racing driver
See also
References
- ^ "History of the Duffel Coat". Retrieved 10 September 2022.
- ^ "L. 25 : Brussel-Noord - Antwerpen". Belgische Spoorlijnen. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- ^ "Duffel". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
- ^ Jarvis, Joanne (January 2009). "Braintree is reborn". Essex Life. Archant.
- ^ "The History of the Duffel Coat". Retrieved 10 September 2022.
- ^ "Duffel Coat History". Retrieved 12 September 2022.