Aalst | |
Settlement Type: | Village |
Native Name Lang: | nl |
Pushpin Map: | Netherlands North Brabant#Netherlands |
Pushpin Mapsize: | 250 |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in the province of North Brabant in the Netherlands |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | Netherlands |
Subdivision Type1: | Province |
Subdivision Name1: | North Brabant |
Subdivision Type2: | Municipality |
Subdivision Name2: | Waalre |
Elevation Footnotes: | [1] |
Elevation M: | 20 |
Area Total Km2: | 1.95 |
Population Footnotes: | [2] |
Population Total: | 3,690 |
Population As Of: | 2021 |
Population Density Km2: | auto |
Timezone: | CET |
Utc Offset: | +1 |
Timezone Dst: | CEST |
Utc Offset Dst: | +2 |
Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
Postal Code: | 5582 |
Area Code Type: | Dialing code |
Area Code: | 040 |
Coordinates: | 51.3964°N 5.4767°W |
Aalst is a village located 6 km south of Eindhoven, the Netherlands, on the Tongelreep stream and the road to Valkenswaard. It was an independent municipality until 1923, when it merged with the municipality of Waalre.
Aalst experienced rapid growth during the 1970s and 1980s as housing estates were built in the Ekenrooi area, which served as an overflow area for Eindhoven. Despite this development, the area remains very green and pleasant with large stretches of managed forest and heathland. Notable places include 'De hut van Mie Pils', a cafe and restaurant located in the wooded area in the east of the municipality.
In September 1944, Aalst saw the British XXX Corps pass along the main road from Valkenswaard to Eindhoven as part of Operation Market Garden.
The spoken language is Kempenlands (an East Brabantian dialect, one of the many southern dialects of Dutch).[3]
In recent decades, Aalst has developed from an agricultural community into a village of Eindhoven. In 1919, industrial company Brabantia, which makes metals and plastics household products sold worldwide, was founded in Aalst. Today, Brabantia's head office is located in Valkenswaard.