Geel
Geel | |
---|---|
City and municipality | |
Area | |
• Total | 110.2 km2 (42.5 sq mi) |
Population (2022-01-01)[1] | |
• Total | 41,146 |
• Density | 370/km2 (970/sq mi) |
Postal codes | 2440 |
NIS code | 13008 |
Area codes | 014 |
Website | www.geel.be |
Geel (Dutch pronunciation:
History
Origins and Middle Ages
Archaeological finds in the area point to
In the 12th century, the extended territory around Geel was given to the
From the French Revolution until today
In 1795, the Duchy of Brabant was dissolved and Geel made part of the French
A model of psychiatric care
Geel is well known for the early adoption of de-institutionalization in psychiatric care.[3] This practice is based on the positive effects that placement in a host family gives the patient, most importantly access to family life that would otherwise have been denied. The legendary 7th-century Saint Dymphna, who had fled to the Geel area from Ireland, is usually credited with this type of care. The earliest Geel infirmary and the model where patients go into town, interact with the community during the day, and return to the hospital at night to sleep, date from the 13th century.[4][5]
Originally, this practice was religiously motivated and organized by a
This novel type of psychiatric care was evaluated by various other institutions around the world (see for instance Eastern State Hospital in Virginia), but often seen as too revolutionary to implement. It is only in the early 20th century that the idea of deinstitutionalization was adopted more widely elsewhere. Today, a modern psychiatric centre stands on the place of the old infirmary, and close to 500 patients are still placed with inhabitants.
The fact that people with mental illness are living with relatively non-judgmental (formerly) strangers and not with family members has been cited as a partial explanation of the success of this model, because it creates an environment that avoids emotional over-involvement, critical comments, and hostility (measured collectively in psychiatry as "expressed emotion").[7] Another aspect cited as helpful is that people with mental illness are allowed to live their lives relatively freely, without being labeled as "broken" or "in recovery".[8]
Sights
- The market square, facing the Sint-Amands church and bordered by attractive café terraces, is the focal point of the city. The oldest part of the city hall dates from the 17th century. Not far away, the Sint-Dimpna church marks the place where the saint was buried.
- Geel is located along the river Nete, in the Campine region noted for varied landscape of forests and dunes.
- Nature reserve De Zegge, belonging to the society which owns the Antwerp Zoo.
- Among the city's attractions one counts a field of orchids, a centenary linden tree, three wind mills, a military cemetery, and a handful a museums including a clock museum, a lamp museum, and an old bakery. The Saint-Alexis college is emblazoned with Art Nouveau sgraffiti by Gabriel Van Dievoet.
Education
Geel is a regional educational centre with several basic schools and high schools. It hosts campuses from Thomas More University College and KU Leuven as institutes for higher education.
The European School, Mol is in Mol, near Geel.[9]
Economic activity
Geel is a regional agricultural, industrial, and commercial center offering medical and educational services to the neighboring communities. The city is the location of a
Sports and cultural events
- Geel is home to the former football club Verbroedering Geel-Meerhout.
- The Reggae Geel festival, one of the larger reggae festivals in Europe, takes place usually early in August just outside the city centre.
Notable people
- Maarten Peeters, painter and publisher (1500–1566)
- Eddy Bertels, footballer (1932–2011)
- Patrik Vankrunkelsven, physician and politician (b. 1957)
- Eddy Voordeckers, footballer (b. 1960)
- Ludo Dierckxsens, racing cyclist (b. 1964)
- Anja Daems, radio and television presenter (b. 1968)
- Marc Goossens, race car driver (b. 1969)
- Natalia, singer (b. 1980)
- Jef Neve, composer (b. 1977)
- Kathleen Aerts, singer (b. 1978)
- Filip Daems, footballer (b. 1978)
- Jan Heylen, racecar driver (b. 1980)
- Sepp De Roover, footballer (b. 1984)
- Kevin Strijbos, motocross racer (b. 1985)
- Kirsten Flipkens, tennis player (b. 1986)
International relations
Twin towns — Sister cities
Geel is
References
Notes
- ^ "Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2022". Statbel. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
- ^ "Bevolking per statistische sector - Sector 13008". Statistics Belgium. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ISBN 0-8039-1331-1
- S2CID 26632282.
- ^ Stevis-Gridneff, Matina; Ryckewaert, Koba; Njiokiktjien, Ilvy (21 April 2023). "A Radical Experiment in Mental Health Care, Tested Over Centuries" – via NYTimes.com.
- ISBN 978-0-375-50748-9.
- ^ The Problem with the Solution (transcript) - Invisibilia podcast, 1 July 2016
- PMID 27512591.
- ^ "Deutscher Bundestag 4. Wahlperiode Drucksache IV/3672" ( Archived 2016-03-12 at the Wayback Machine). Bundestag (West Germany). 23 June 1965. Retrieved on 12 March 2016. p. 10/51. "Europäische Schule Mol — Deutsche Abteilung — Geel Europawijk 2"
Further reading
- Jay, Mike (9 January 2014). "The Geel question". Aeon. Archived from the originalon 19 October 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
- "A Report on the Care of the Insane Poor: II—Old Gheel". British Medical Journal. 1 (2298): 96. 14 January 1905. PMID 20761871.
- "A Report on the Care of the Insane Poor: III—Modern Gheel". British Medical Journal. 1 (2299): 150–3. 21 January 1905. PMID 20761887.
External links
- Popular Science MonthlyVolume 28, November 1885
- Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 11 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 919.
- Goldstein, J. "Geel, Belgium: A Model of 'Community Recovery'". Birmingham, AL: Psychology Department, Samford University.
- Geel official website – in Dutch language