Mortsel

Mortsel
Municipality
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°E / 51.167; 4.467Coordinates: 51°10′N 04°28′E / 51.167°N 4.467°E / 51.167; 4.467
Country	Belgium
Community	Flemish Community
Region	Flemish Region
Province	Antwerp
Arrondissement	Antwerp
Government
• Mayor	Erik Broeckx (NVA)
Area
• Total	7.78 km2 (3.00 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2016)[1]
• Total	25,551
• Density	3,300/km2 (8,500/sq mi)
Postal codes	2640
Area codes	03
Website	www.mortsel.be

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. On January 1, 2006 Mortsel had a total population of 24,427 people. The total area is 7.78 km² which gives a population density of 3,138 inhabitants per km². This is the highest population density of any municipality in the Flemish Region (Flanders), and second-highest (to Saint-Nicolas) outside the Brussels-Capital Region.

Geography

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.

History

Mortsel was the scene for one of the major collateral damage tragedies of World War II. On April 5, 1943, the bombing of the Minerva car factory, then used to repair Luftwaffe planes, was the target of a big bombing raid by the Allies. Unfortunately the target was missed and a residential area hit 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.^[2]

The last V2 launched against Antwerp also fell in Mortsel, killing 27 people, on March 27, 1945.

Economy

The headquarters of Agfa-Gevaert are situated in Mortsel. Mortsel is famous for its delicious onions.

Famous people

• Alex Agnew, stand-up comedian
• Luc Brewaeys, (born in Mortsel in 1959), composer, conductor, pianist and recording producer
• Luc Descamps, writer
• Timo Descamps, actor
• Philippe Geubels, stand-up comedian
• Wim Helsen, stand-up comedian
• Dimitri Leue, actor
• Clem Schouwenaars (b. Mortsel, 1932–1993), writer
• Luc Tuymans, painter
• Jos Vandeloo, writer
• Siska Schoeters, radio personality
• Koen de Winter, designer
• Bart De Wever, politician
• Dirk Verelst, musician
• Leander Leenaerts, ditcher, Anke's second love, Dealer of Mortsel

See also

• Crossing the Lines

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mortsel.

• (Dutch) Mortsel official website
• (English) Website of historian Pieter Serrien on the bombing

		Antwerp	Borsbeek
	Antwerp		Boechout
		Mortsel
	Edegem	Hove

Municipalities in the province of Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium
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