View source for Aarle-Rixtel

{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Aarle-Rixtel
| settlement_type         = Village and former municipality
| other_name              = <!-- if different from name -->
| native_name             = <!-- if different from name -->
| native_name_lang        = nl
| image_skyline           = File:Vm Raadhuis Dorpsstraat 1 Aarle-Rixtel Monument 520166.jpg
| image_alt               =
| image_caption           = Former town hall of the municipality Aarle-Rixtel
| image_flag              = Aarle-Rixtel vlag.svg
| image_shield            = Aarle-Rixtel wapen 1961.svg
| nickname                =
| motto                   =
| image_map               = 
| map_caption             =
| image_map1              = 
| map_caption1            = 
| pushpin_map             = Netherlands North Brabant#Netherlands
| pushpin_label_position  = 
| pushpin_mapsize         = 250
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location in the province of North Brabant in the Netherlands
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name        = [[Netherlands]]
| subdivision_type1       = Province
| subdivision_name1       = [[North Brabant]]
| subdivision_type2       = Municipality
| subdivision_name2       = [[Laarbeek]]
| elevation_footnotes     = <ref name="AHN">{{cite web |url = http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool |title = Postcodetool for 5735AA |language = nl |work = Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland |publisher = Het Waterschapshuis |access-date = 16 April 2022 }}</ref>
| elevation_m             = 17
| elevation_min_m         =
| elevation_max_m         =
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="stat"/>
| area_total_km2          = 2.66
| established_title       = 
| established_date        = 
| population_footnotes    = <ref name="stat">{{cite web |url=https://www.cbs.nl/-/media/_excel/2021/48/kwb-2021.xls |title=Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021 |website=Central Bureau of Statistics |access-date=16 April 2022 |quote=three entries}}</ref>
| population_total        = 5,310
| population_as_of        = 2021
| population_demonym      = 
| population_note         =
| population_density_km2  = auto
| timezone                = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset              = +1
| timezone_DST            = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST          = +2
| postal_code_type        = [[List of postal codes in the Netherlands|Postal code]]
| postal_code             = 5735<ref name="stat"/>
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in the Netherlands|Dialing code]]
| area_code               = 0492
| coordinates             = {{coord|51|30|32|N|5|38|16|E|region:NL|display=inline, title}}
}}

'''Aarle-Rixtel''' is a village in the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] municipality of [[Laarbeek]] in [[North Brabant]]. It lies about 4&nbsp;km north of [[Helmond]]. Since the municipal reorganization of 1968 the [[Croy Castle|castle Croy]] is part of Aarle-Rixtel. 

== History ==
Aarle was first mentioned in 1249 as Arleh, and means "open forest with [[maple]] trees".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://etymologiebank.nl/trefwoord/aarle |title=Aarle - (geografische naam) |website=Etymologiebank |access-date=16 April 2022 |language=nl}}</ref> Rixtel was first mentioned in 1179 as Ricstelle. The etymology is unknown.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://etymologiebank.nl/trefwoord/rixtel |title=Rixtel - (geografische naam) |website=Etymologiebank |access-date=16 April 2022 |language=nl}}</ref> The villages developed in the Middle Ages along the [[Aa (Meuse)|Aa River]]. The two villages merged into a single entity. Aarle used to be a site of pilgrimage, and had a church, guesthouse, monastery and an [[inn]].<ref name="monument">{{cite book|url=https://dbnl.org/tekst/sten009monu02_01/sten009monu02_01_0007.php#7 |title=Aarle-Rixtel |author=Chris Kolman & Ronald Stenvert| year=1997 |publisher=Waanders |location=Zwolle |isbn=90 400 9945 6 |access-date=16 April 2022 |language=nl}}</ref>

The Chapel of Our Lady in the Sand is a pilgrimage site which was built around 1500. It was rebuilt in 1597. In 1846, it was converted into town hall, but became a chapel again in 1853. In 1969, it was restored and made symmetrical again. There is a little 16th-century Mary statue inside in the chapel which allegedly has performed miracles.<ref name="monument"/>

The Our Lady Presentation Church was built between 1844 and 1846 in [[Neoclassicism|neoclassic]] style and is one of the finest examples of a so-called {{ill|waterstaatskerk|nl}}, churches built by the [[Rijkswaterstaat]] (Department of Public Works). It was remodelled between 1896 and 1897 by [[Joseph Cuypers]].<ref name="monument"/>

[[Croy Castle]] was built in the 15th century as a summer residence. The gate with the two towers date from 1500 and were restored in 1790. The last residence was Constance van der Bruggen who left the estate to the poor of [[Stiphout]]. A retirement home was established in the castle until 1977. In 1988, it became an office building.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kasteleninbrabant.nl/kastelen/kasteel-croy/ |title=Kasteel Croy |website=Kastelen in Brabant |access-date=16 April 2022 |language=nl}}</ref>

In 1840, Aarle was home to 701 people and Rixtel was home to 154 people.<ref name="plaats">{{cite web|url=https://www.plaatsengids.nl/aarle-rixtel |title=Aarle-Rixtel |website=Plaatsengids |access-date=16 April 2022 |language=nl}}</ref> The former town hall was built in 1855 and consists of three blocks: a school, the town hall and the residence for the school teacher.<ref name="monument"/> Until the municipal reorganization of 1997, Aarle-Rixtel was a separate municipality. In 1997, it became part of [[Laarbeek]].<ref name="plaats"/>

The spoken language is [[Meierij|Peelland]]s (an [[East Brabantian]] dialect, which is very similar to [[Standard Dutch]]).

Since many decades, the village has been an important location for textile production. Petit & Fritsen was a  bell foundry that was located in Aarle-Rixtel until 2014. In that year, the company was acquired by a competitor who became thereby the last remaining Dutch bell foundry.

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Aarle-Rixtel, Klokkengieterij Petit & Fritsen RM46886 foto7 2016-10-16 12.29.jpg|Bell foundry Petit & Fritsen
File:Kapel van Onze Lieve Vrouw in 't Zand Aarle-Rixtel Monument 6938.jpg|Chapel of Our Lady in the Sand
File:Heemhuis.jpg|House in Aarle-Rixtel
File:Laarbeek Cafe Dorpstraat 18 20150404.jpg|Pub in Aarle-Rixel
</gallery>

== References ==
{{RefList}}

[[Category:Municipalities of the Netherlands disestablished in 1997]]
[[Category:Former municipalities of North Brabant]]
[[Category:Populated places in North Brabant]]
[[Category:Laarbeek]]