Duffel (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈdʏfəl] ) is a municipality in the Belgian province of Antwerp.

Duffel
Duffel Town Hall
Duffel Town Hall
Flag of Duffel
Coat of arms of Duffel
Location of Duffel
Map
Duffel is located in Belgium
Duffel
Duffel
Location in Belgium
Location of Duffel in the province of Antwerp
Coordinates: 51°06′N 04°31′E / 51.100°N 4.517°E / 51.100; 4.517
Country Belgium
CommunityFlemish Community
RegionFlemish Region
ProvinceAntwerp
ArrondissementMechelen
Government
 • MayorSofie Joosen (N-VA)
 • Governing party/iesN-VA, CD&V
Area
 • Total
22.6 km2 (8.7 sq mi)
Population
 (2020-01-01)[1]
 • Total
17,664
 • Density780/km2 (2,000/sq mi)
Postal codes
2570
NIS code
12009
Area codes015, 03
Websitewww.duffel.be

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 woolen 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.[2]

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.[3]

Duffel cloth

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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.[4] 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.[5] The name for the cloth was so well-known that a type of overcoat made from the cloth and manufactured in England got the name Duffel coat.[6][7]

Notable natives

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Climate

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Climate data for Duffel (1991−2020 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 6.7
(44.1)
7.7
(45.9)
11.2
(52.2)
15.5
(59.9)
19.0
(66.2)
21.8
(71.2)
23.9
(75.0)
23.7
(74.7)
20.1
(68.2)
15.4
(59.7)
10.4
(50.7)
7.1
(44.8)
15.2
(59.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 4.0
(39.2)
4.4
(39.9)
7.1
(44.8)
10.3
(50.5)
14.1
(57.4)
17.0
(62.6)
19.1
(66.4)
18.7
(65.7)
15.4
(59.7)
11.5
(52.7)
7.4
(45.3)
4.5
(40.1)
11.1
(52.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 1.3
(34.3)
1.1
(34.0)
2.9
(37.2)
5.3
(41.5)
9.2
(48.6)
12.2
(54.0)
14.3
(57.7)
13.8
(56.8)
10.7
(51.3)
7.5
(45.5)
4.3
(39.7)
1.9
(35.4)
7.0
(44.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 68.0
(2.68)
60.3
(2.37)
54.1
(2.13)
40.8
(1.61)
55.4
(2.18)
72.6
(2.86)
76.3
(3.00)
81.6
(3.21)
69.3
(2.73)
64.4
(2.54)
74.3
(2.93)
84.2
(3.31)
801.3
(31.55)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 11.9 11.1 10.4 8.5 9.5 9.8 10.2 10.1 9.6 10.6 12.1 13.4 127.2
Mean monthly sunshine hours 61 77 134 188 218 218 223 210 163 117 66 51 1,726
Source: Royal Meteorological Institute[8]
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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2020". Statbel.
  2. ^ "History of the Duffel Coat". Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  3. ^ "L. 25 : Brussel-Noord - Antwerpen". Belgische Spoorlijnen. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Duffel". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  5. ^ Jarvis, Joanne (January 2009). "Braintree is reborn". Essex Life. Archant.
  6. ^ "The History of the Duffel Coat". Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  7. ^ "Duffel Coat History". Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  8. ^ "Luchttemperatuur en neerslag Referentieperiode: 1991-2020" (PDF) (in Dutch). Royal Meteorological Institute. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
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