"Mortsel, my hometown" Mortsel by irisbe

Mortsel Travel Guide: 49 reviews and 195 photos

city hall Mortsel, reflections - Mortsel

Because we have very good accomodations: cultural, sport, social ... and because we are the most densed populated community of the whole Antwerp region (average ppl living/square km)...

What I am doing

That doesn't leave us much open green spaces anymore: the grasland next to the landing track of the Airport of Deurne (Antwerp), the sides of the railroad tracks and the dismissed Fortress IV,
previous a part of a chain of Fortresses, built for protection around Antwerp.

A small tour around Fort IV.

You can imagine that we "fight" for each inch of green open space to be kept and that is what I have been doing since end 1990 concerning a local farm with a little bit of grassland around it.

A small logbook about our little "war zone" at Mortsel.

Facing the ignorance of the previous local politicians and the openly mingling of some's private interests and political power, I accepted to participate in the last local elections as independent member. Well, we made a primeur in the whole Flanders and in Mortsel that day! We provided the first female mayor (top of our list) in Mortsel, second ecological mayor in Flanders (but first female ecological mayor). But we have to fight an "old-alligator political system".
Our priorities now are more tended to social and ecological topics (how to deal and get rid of deadly and too densed traffic, how to keep open green spaces, the continuation of education projects of the Roma gypsy children at the camp in Mortsel (at this very moment the federal government is cutting off our subsidies because they adviced the kids were not attending the courses on a real regular bases... as if in this case is not demanded a whole different approach and judgment of "regular pupils", while on the other hand they use us in the media as being a model example. What a contrasts).

In one sentence: how to keep this a place where you like to live and wander around?

General info:

The farm in previous times

Mortsel is the place where Lieven Gevaert started his factory (Agfa-Gevaert), specialized
in films for photography, later shifting more to the medical applications of film.

What I would like to do:

Mortsel is the place that had the priveledge of being among the first victims of "clean war and precising bombing" and thus have lost almost 1000 people,
most children (they dropped the bombs on schools!), and a multitude more being injured, in a few moments time on 5th of April 1943 on a sunny afternoon. But
that part of history is muted and erased because it is after all the victor who writes history. Be honest, it is not such an easy thing to admitt you bombed your compatriots in war and missed the targets, killing innocent civilians especially when they are kids. I hope I can write more about this topic in one of my travelogues because this still lives in the generation of our parents and grandparents who
knew many people who died that day and who have witnessed as kids the disrupted bodies in the trees or carried away. Two books about this dark page in Mortsel's history has been written but in Dutch. There are a lot of b/w pictures in of kids and people who didn't survived the attack. As we experienced from recent events, to be able to put a face on a victim has a bigger impact then if you are just referring to a number of what is called "casualties of war". Forgive
me not feeling comfortable when confronted on the news broadcasting with this clean talk terminology to make the unacceptable acceptable. The VRT (Flemish National Television has made a documentary on occasion of the 50th "anniversary").
While the pilots of the escadron that participated, were celebrated in Tennessee last year (2000), we are still denied the iron cross, given to cities who are recognized to have suffered during war. In our case it doesn't really matter anymore who's fault it was, or if the mission should have been canceled or not...
it is just a matter of recognition, but even that is denied up to now.

A special visitor in Mortsel, January 2003

Seckou, Ingrid, Alassane

In January we invited a special visitor: Seckou Kandé, mayor of Bantancountou (Senegal) and Alassane Cisse, journalist in Dakar (Senegal).

This visit is related to my Senegal page.

Last visit to Mortsel: Dec 2001
Intro Updated Mar 29, 2004
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Reviews (34)

New lodgement room Hotels (2)

Since we turned our daughter's previous bedroom into a guestroom, we already had 5 guests staying. Best time to come is... more travel advice

Family chilling out at home Local Customs (11)

When we arrived back home from our trip to Barcelona I asked Chibuzor if he would like it to make some African dinner... more travel advice

Tompt Tom;B-caro Caroline;Tompt Gonnie; Ralph_II - Mortsel

VT meetings Local Customs (11)

I had already quite some meetings at home. Last time Ralph stayed and Tom and Gonnie and Caroline joined for a brunch... more travel advice

A lust for the eye and for the tummy! Shopping (2)

In Mortsel we are happy to dispose of several bakeries. The one nearest to our place is called De Castro. It is one of... more travel advice

Restaurants (4)
See All There is no place like...
Nightlife (1)
Special events
Off The Beaten Path (4)
See All WWII resistant memorial
Things to Do (2)
See All Victims 5th April 1943 allied...

Warnings Or Dangers (2)
See All what happened before and happened again
Sports & Outdoors (2)
See All Indoor Climbing wall
Favorites (2)
See All Agfa-Gevaert factory
Transportation (2)
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Travelogues (5)

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Comments (44)

RoyJava May 12, 2009 at 10:53 AM Report Abuse

You do live in a very lovely place, enjoyed to read about it, included some great pics, keep in touch, until next Dann, greets RoyJava
sourbugger Mar 6, 2008 at 11:58 AM Report Abuse

a very unusual and quite moving page. thanks.
raytor Jul 3, 2007 at 10:05 AM Report Abuse

Tell you something new? I figure you have seen everything. What new can there be?
mvtouring Feb 8, 2007 at 9:32 PM Report Abuse

Very interesting page. Thanks for sharing. Hoping to visit next year will def contact you then ;-)
ChristinaNest Feb 8, 2007 at 5:09 AM Report Abuse

Interesting place, so much history and sadness... It's great that you're fighting for the farm. Construction companies here are also the same, occupying the little green spaces left...
iandsmith Nov 14, 2006 at 3:15 AM Report Abuse

Wow, wars and dead cyclists. Since my grandfather died there during WWI and I ride pushbikes it was all a little melancholy.
alexprofi May 3, 2006 at 2:30 AM Report Abuse

Well... it is very a pity that at night the restaurant on Drabstraat 262 is closed, I in Belgium am only at night... I Hope there will be time when I can visit him...
husain Apr 17, 2006 at 11:46 AM Report Abuse

looks perfect in that corner- now i`m glad i chose that one:) also- thats a nice name for the cat... and theres some funny looking dogs there!
Luchonda Apr 17, 2006 at 11:32 AM Report Abuse

New hotel acco ? Hi Danielle - what is the price, are there special services included - is BF included - is there a shopping place.And like usual - credit cards are accepted - No??
Goldenboy Feb 26, 2006 at 2:30 PM Report Abuse

Happy belated birthday dear Dannie!!! (Servers down :( ) Millions of smiles and happiness be unto you. Happy travel and all my best wishes!