Borgerhout () is the smallest

district A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivision ...

Antwerp Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504,

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to ...

. , the district houses 45,769 inhabitants on 3,93 km². It was an independent municipality until January 1983. The postal area code for Borgerhout is 2140.

Geography

Borgerhout is divided into two parts by a highway and the historical walls. The part inside those walls is "intra muros," meaning (within the walls). It is built around a big boulevard, the Turnhoutsebaan. The Turnhoutsebaan is the biggest shopping street, offering both food and clothing, in both Belgian and foreigner's stores. "Intra muros" is the young and trendy part of Borgerhout, with a lot of so-called "hipster bars".

Demographics

Borgerhout has an extremely diverse population, with 63% percent of inhabitants having non-Belgian ancestry. Of the nine districts of Antwerp, it has the highest population density.

History

Borgerhout was first mentioned in the year 1214 in an act written by the Duke of Brabant. It was then named 'Borgerholt'.

Etymology

"Borger" likely comes from the old world for citizen or city dweller. Currently, the Dutch word for this is "burger". It might also refer to the word "borgh", meaning a fortress or fortified building. Borghmeester (1254) or borgermeyster (1286) are mentioned in written sources as the word for "mayor", literally "master of the fortress" or "master of the citizens". "Hout" (or previously "holt) means "wood". It is similar to some naming conventions in English, for example "Hollywood". It refers to a time when Borgerhout was still much greener, and had not yet merged with greater Antwerp. It likely also explains the tree on the coat of arms.

People from Borgerhout

Born in Borgerhout

Bachir Boumaaza Bachir Boumaaza (born 9 June 1980), known by the online pseudonym Athene, is a Belgian internet personality and Twitch streamer and YouTuber. He is best known as a World of Warcraft content creator. He is the founder of Gaming for Good and has be ...

(born 1980), known by his pseudonym ''Athene'', gaming social activist and internet personality * Guillaume Geefs (1805–1883), sculptor *

Floris Jespers Floris Jespers (18 March 1889 in Borgerhout – 16 April 1965 in Antwerp) was a Belgian Avant-garde painter. After his graduation from the Antwerp Academy of Fine Arts, he hooked up with the poet Paul Van Ostaijen and joined the Antwerp avant- ...

(1889–1965), painter * Nahima Lanjri (born 1968), politician *

Sister Leontine Sister Leontine (10 March 1923 – 19 February 2012) was a Belgian Catholic nun, nurse and doctor who is considered the pioneer and promoter of palliative care in Belgium. She set up one of Belgium's first institutionalized care centers for termin ...

(1923–2012), pioneer of palliative care *

Milow Jonathan Ivo Gilles Vandenbroeck (; born 14 July 1981), known professionally as Milow, is a Belgian singer-songwriter. Milow released his debut album, ''The Bigger Picture'', in 2006 on his own label Homerun Records. The fourth single from that ...

(Jonathan Vandenbroeck) (born 1981), singer-songwriter * André Nelis (1935–2012), sailor * Joris Note (born 1949), writer *

Stan Ockers Constant ("Stan") Ockers (3 February 1920 in Borgerhout – 1 October 1956 in Antwerp) was a Belgian professional racing cyclist. He was runner-up in the Tour de France in 1950 and 1952, and the best sprinter in that race in 1955 and 195 ...

(1920–1956), cyclist * Hugues C. Pernath (1931–1975), poet * Maria Rosseels (1916–2005), journalist and actor *

Michel Seuphor Fernand Berckelaers (10 March 1901, in Borgerhout – 12 February 1999, in Paris), pseudonym Michel Seuphor (anagram of Orpheus), was a Belgian painter. Seuphor established a literary magazine, '' Het Overzicht'', in Antwerp in 1921. He moved i ...

(1901–1999), artist * Paul van Morckhoven (1910–1990), dramatist and theatre critic * Robert Van Straelen (born 1934), economist * Thomas Vinçotte (1850–1925), sculptor * Eddy Wauters (born 1933), soccer player

(Former) inhabitants of Borgerhout

Tom De Cock Tom De Cock (born 23 September 1983 in Schoten) is a Flanders, Flemish radio DJ, television host and writer. At the age of 16 he published his first novel "De Openbaring" ("The Revelation"). Radio In 2008 he started as a radio DJ at the publi ...

(born 1983), writer and radio–DJ * Saskia De Coster (born 1976), writer *

Bart Martens Bart Martens (born 1969) is a Belgian politician and a member of the SP.A. He was elected as a member of the Belgian Senate The Senate ( nl, Senaat, ; french: Sénat, ; german: Senat) is one of the two chambers of the bicameral Federal Pa ...

(born 1969), politician and a member of the SP.A * Alfred Ost, (1884–1945), artist * Anne Provoost (born 1964), writer * Wouter Van Besien (born 1972), politician, chairman of the ecologist party

Groen! Groen (English: Green; nl, Groen, ), founded as Agalev (see Name below), is a green Flemish political party in Belgium. Its French-speaking equivalent is Ecolo; the two parties maintain close relations with each other. Party history Before 1 ...

* Tom Van Laere (born 1974), musician *

Erik Van Looy Erik Ludovicus Maria Van Looy () is a Belgian film director known for his thriller movies.Erik Van Looy
IMDb He was bor ...

(born 1962), film director *

Rik Van Steenbergen Rik Van Steenbergen (9 September 1924 – 15 May 2003) was a Belgian racing cyclist, considered to be one of the best among the great number of successful Belgian cyclists. Early life Van Steenbergen was born in Arendonk into a poor fami ...

(1924–2003), racing cyclist * Carl Verbraeken (born 1950), president of the Union of Belgian Composers

Gallery

File:Borgerhout Reuzenhuis.JPG, Town hall until 1890 File:Reuskens.jpg, Reuskens of Borgerhout

References

External links

* Districts of Antwerp Populated places in Antwerp Province {{Antwerp-geo-stub