| Minderhout | |
| Settlement Type: | Village |
| Pushpin Map: | Belgium |
| Pushpin Label Position: | left |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Belgium |
| Pushpin Mapsize: | 250 |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Belgium |
| Subdivision Type1: | Community |
| Subdivision Name1: | Flemish Community |
| Subdivision Type2: | Region |
| Subdivision Name2: | Flemish Region |
| Subdivision Type3: | Province |
| Subdivision Name3: | Antwerp |
| Subdivision Type4: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name4: | Hoogstraten |
| Area Total Km2: | 16.01 |
| Population As Of: | 2021 |
| Population Footnotes: | [1] |
| Population Total: | 4,420 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Coordinates: | 51.4175°N 4.7625°W |
Minderhout is a village in the Belgian municipality of Hoogstraten in the province of Antwerp close to the border with the Netherlands. As of 2021, it has about 4,420 inhabitants.[1]
The village was first mentioned in 1238 as Minrehout, and means "the smaller forest". Minderhout was founded from Baarle .The Thorn Abbey used to have many possession in Minderhout, and the village and neighbouring Castelré originally belonged to the Land of Breda. During the 14th century, Minderhout became the property of the Lords of Hoogstraten, but Castelré remained with Breda, therefore, the original area was cut in two. In 1794, it became an independent municipality.[2] Minderhout would remain independent until 1977 when it was merged into Hoogstraten.[3]