Mortsel

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.

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
CountryBelgium
CommunityFlemish Community
RegionFlemish Region
ProvinceAntwerp
ArrondissementAntwerp
Government
 • MayorErik Broeckx (NVA)
Area
 • Total7.78 km2 (3.00 sq mi)
Population
 (2018-01-01)[1]
 • Total25,824
 • Density3,300/km2 (8,600/sq mi)
Postal codes
2640
Area codes03
Websitewww.mortsel.be

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 Minerva car factory, then used to repair Luftwaffe planes, was the target of a big bombing raid by the USAAF. Unfortunately 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.[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 agricultural developments in onions.

Notable people

See also the Category:People from Mortsel.

See also

References
  1. "Wettelijke Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2018". Statbel. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  2. "Bombing of Mortsel". pieterserrien.be. 3 September 2015. (in English)
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