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
Aerial view of Mortsel
Aerial view of Mortsel
Flag of Mortsel
Coat of arms of Mortsel
Location of Mortsel
Map
Mortsel is located in Belgium
Mortsel
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; 4.467
Country Belgium
CommunityFlemish Community
RegionFlemish Region
ProvinceAntwerp
ArrondissementAntwerp
Government
 • MayorErik Broeckx (N-VA)
 • Governing party/iesN-VA, Vooruit-I love Mortsel, CD&V
Area
 • Total
7.78 km2 (3.00 sq mi)
Population
 (2022-01-01)[1]
 • Total
26,181
 • Density3,400/km2 (8,700/sq mi)
Postal codes
2640
NIS code
11029
Area codes03
Websitewww.mortsel.be

Geography

edit

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

edit

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.

Economy

edit

The headquarters of Agfa-Gevaert are situated in Mortsel.

Notable people

edit

See also the Category:People from Mortsel.

See also

edit
  • Crossing the Lines

References

edit
  1. ^ https://www.ibz.rrn.fgov.be/fileadmin/user_upload/fr/pop/statistiques/population-bevolking-20220101.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ^ "Bevolking per statistische sector - Sector 11029". Statistics Belgium. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  3. ^ "Bombing of Mortsel". pieterserrien.be. 3 September 2015. (in English)
edit

  Media related to Mortsel at Wikimedia Commons