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Mortsel (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈmɔrtsəl]) is a city and municipality close to the city of Antwerp located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the city of Mortsel proper. In 2021, Mortsel had a total population of 26,170 people. The total area is 7.78 km².[2]
Mortsel | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Aerial view of Mortsel | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
  Mortsel Location in Belgium
Location of Mortsel in the province of Antwerp  | |
| Coordinates: 51°10′N 04°28′E / 51.167°N 4.467°ECoordinates: 51°10′N 04°28′E / 51.167°N 4.467°E | |
| Country | Belgium |
| Community | Flemish Community |
| Region | Flemish Region |
| Province | Antwerp |
| Arrondissement | Antwerp |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Erik Broeckx (N-VA) |
| • Governing party/ies | N-VA, Vooruit-I love Mortsel, CD&V |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.78 km2 (3.00 sq mi) |
| Population (2018-01-01)[1] | |
| • Total | 25,824 |
| • Density | 3,300/km2 (8,600/sq mi) |
| Postal codes | 2640 |
| Area codes | 03 |
| Website | www.mortsel.be |
GeographyEdit
The city consists of the areas Mortsel-Dorp, Oude-God and Luithagen. Mortsel is bordered by Antwerp (districts Wilrijk, Berchem and Deurne), Borsbeek, Boechout, Hove, and Edegem.
HistoryEdit
Mortsel was the scene for one of the major collateral damage tragedies of World War II. On 5 April 1943, the Minerva car factory, then used to repair Luftwaffe planes, was the target of a bombing raid by the USAAF. Most bombs missed the target and hit a residential area instead, resulting in the deaths of 936 civilians, including 209 children, exceeding the civilian death toll of the Guernica raid which modern estimates put at 400.[3]
The last V2 launched against Antwerp also fell in Mortsel, killing 27 people, on 27 March 1945.
EconomyEdit
The headquarters of Agfa-Gevaert are situated in Mortsel. Mortsel is famous for its agricultural developments in onions.
Notable peopleEdit
- Alex Agnew, stand-up comedian
- Luc Brewaeys, (born in Mortsel in 1959), composer, conductor, pianist and recording producer
- Bart De Wever, politician
- Timo Descamps, actor
- Koen Lenaerts, President of the European Court of Justice
- Clem Schouwenaars (b. Mortsel, 1932–1993), writer
- Tamino, musician
- Luc Tuymans, painter
- Jos Vandeloo, writer
See also the Category:People from Mortsel.
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
- ^ "Wettelijke Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2018". Statbel. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
- ^ "Bevolking per statistische sector - Sector 11029". Statistics Belgium. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ "Bombing of Mortsel". pieterserrien.be. 3 September 2015. (in English)
External linksEdit
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mortsel. |
- (in Dutch) Official website