Zonhoven | |
|---|---|
 Former town hall of Zonhoven | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
Location of Zonhoven  | |
  Zonhoven Location in Belgium
Location of Zonhoven in Limburg  | |
| Coordinates: 50°59′N 5°21′E / 50.983°N 5.350°E | |
| Country |  Belgium |
| Community | Flemish Community |
| Region | Flemish Region |
| Province | Limburg |
| Arrondissement | Hasselt |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Johny De Raeve (Open Vld) |
| • Governing party/ies | Open Vld |
| Area | |
• Total | 39.67 km2 (15.32 sq mi) |
| Population (2018-01-01)[1] | |
• Total | 21,214 |
| • Density | 530/km2 (1,400/sq mi) |
| Postal codes | 3520 |
| NIS code | 71066 |
| Area codes | 011 - 089 |
| Website | www.zonhoven.be |
Zonhoven (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈzɔnɦoːvə(n)]; Limburgish: Zoneve) is a municipality located in the middle of the Belgian province of Limburg located north of Hasselt and also borders Houthalen-Helechteren, Genk and Heusden-Zolder. It’s an urbanized municipality, in the edge area of Hasselt. The municipality belongs to the On January 1, 2019, Zonhoven had a total population of 21,237.[2] The total area is 39.34 km2 which gives a population density of 506 inhabitants per km2.
Archaeological findings from the period 11,000 BCE to 5,000 BCE, including the only fixed prehistoric polishing stone in Flanders,[3] indicate early inhabitation of the territory. From the Middle Ages to the early modern period, Zonhoven and its neighboring villages belonged to the Land of Vogelsanck. Since the arrival of industry in the 19th and 20th centuries, the municipality has experienced a significant population increase: between 1930 and 1980, the population tripled. Iron ore mining, in particular, played a prominent role in the economy of Zonhoven.
The municipality includes the hamlets Halveweg, Termolen, and Terdonk.