Geel
From Free net encyclopedia
Geel (English: Gheel) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises only the city of Gheel proper. On January 1 2005 Gheel had a total population of 34,758. The total area is 109.85 km² which gives a population density of 316.41 inhabitants per km². Gheel is also associated with the Irish Saint Dymphna and a colony for the mentally ill.
There was a rise of asylums during the Renaissance period. Across Europe religious shrines were popping up and being devoted to the humane and loving treatment of people with mental disorders. The best known of these shrines was established centuries earlier at Gheel. Beginning in the fifteenth century, people came to it from all over the world for psychic healing. Local residents welcomed these pilgrims into their homes, and many stayed on to form the world's first "colony" of mental patients. Gheel was the forerunner of today's community mental health programs and it continues to demonstrate that people with psychological disorders can respond to loving care and respectful, moral treatment. Today patients are still welcome to live in foster homes in this town, interacting with other residents, until they recover.
External links
- Official website - Available only in Dutch
| Antwerp | |
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| Antwerp: | Aartselaar | Antwerp | Boechout | Boom | Borsbeek | Brasschaat | Brecht | Edegem | Essen | Hemiksem | Hove | Kalmthout | Kapellen | Kontich | Lint | Malle | Mortsel | Niel | Ranst | Rumst | Schelle | Schilde | Schoten | Stabroek | Wijnegem | Wommelgem | Wuustwezel | Zandhoven | Zoersel | Zwijndrecht | | |
| Mechelen: | Berlaar | Bonheiden | Bornem | Duffel | Heist-op-den-Berg | Lier | Mechelen | Nijlen | Putte | Puurs | Sint-Amands | Sint-Katelijne-Waver | Willebroek | |
| Turnhout: | Arendonk | Baarle-Hertog | Balen | Beerse | Dessel | Geel | Grobbendonk | Herentals | Herenthout | Herselt | Hoogstraten | Hulshout | Kasterlee | Laakdal | Lille | Meerhout | Merksplas | Mol | Olen | Oud-Turnhout | Ravels | Retie | Rijkevorsel | Turnhout | Vorselaar | Vosselaar | Westerlo | | |