Deurne | |
|---|---|
.JPG) Sterckshof castle | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
Location of Deurne  | |
 Location of Deurne in Antwerp | |
  Deurne   Deurne | |
| Coordinates:51°13′29″N4°27′45″E / 51.22472°N 4.46250°E /51.22472; 4.46250 | |
| Country |  Belgium |
| Community |  Flemish Community |
| Region | Flemish Region |
| Province |  Antwerp |
| Arrondissement | Antwerp |
| Municipality | Antwerp |
| Area | |
• Total | 13.03 km2 (5.03 sq mi) |
| Population (2023-1-1) | |
• Total | 82,270 |
| • Density | 6,300/km2 (16,000/sq mi) |
| Postal codes | 2100 |
| Area codes | 03 |
| Website | [1] |
Deurne (Dutch pronunciation:[ˈdøːrnə]ⓘ) is the second largestdistrict of the municipality ofAntwerp, Belgium, (right after the Antwerp town district) and has 82,270 inhabitants (2023).[1]
Deurne is best known for its green environment with the biggest park in AntwerpRivierenhof.
Deurne was said to be the place where the Irish missionaryFredigand was abbot of Kerkelodor Abbey in the eighth century.[2]There are indications that Deurne existed in prehistoric and Roman times but the first tangible proof of Deurne only dates back to 1185.During theAncien régime Deurne was nothing more than part of the Easternhinterland ofAntwerp. Like many dwellings it settled on the crossroads of a river (theSchijn) and a connection route (the 'Turnhoutse baan': the road from Antwerp toTurnhout).
Deurne consisted mainly of sparsely populated farmland. However, as a direct result of the increasing wealth of the Antwerp population, manyaristocratic estates were erected (the so-called "Hof van Plaisantie" was a specific rural estate, abourgeois version of achâteau orcountry house). Typically, merchants, diplomats, wealthy artists (likePeter Paul Rubens f.i.) would escape to their Hof van Plaisantie. Some country houses in Deurne were :Sterckshof,Papenhof,Lakbors,Bisschoppenhof,Gallifort,Inkborsch,Bosuil,Ertbrugge &Venneborg. Although most country houses were destroyed over the centuries (especially in 1542), some like Sterckxhof or Bisschoppenhof survived. Further surviving evidence of this aristocratic history of Deurne is the St Fredegand Church and the adjacent cemetery (theSt-Fredegandusbegraafpark).
After thebattle of WaterlooWilliam of Orange started to connect the Antwerp port with its hinterland through the construction of a series of canals between Antwerp andLiège, connecting theScheldt with theMaas. The work, started under his reign in 1823, was completed in 1874.
The effect of this canal was to establish a permanent barrier north of Deurne (where theKleine Schijn used to flow), separating it fromMerksem. In the south theGrote Schijn would form the south barrier of Deurne. The effect of both barriers was to enhance an 'island feeling' for Deurne. This was further promoted by the establishment of theBrialmont fortifications around Antwerp. Deurne was split apart and the western part of Deurne (Borgerhout) was to become a separate municipality. The rest of Deurne now lay outside theenceinte and became physically and mentally more separated from Antwerp.
Because of the barriers constructed in the nineteenth century, urbanization would only begin in the twentieth century. Many large scale urban functions were 'dropped' in the undestined area previously occupied by the Brialmont-fortifications (like the event hallSportpaleis Merksem).Urban planning started in 1913 and although the original plan was never fully realised it did determine the spatial structure of Deurne.
A real demographic explosion happened because of this urban planning and the need for many Antwerp residents to find modern housing. The population grew from 15,432 in 1920 to 52,303 in 1935.
World War II halted this evolution, mainly because of theV-2 bombardments. After 1945 the growth of Deurne started again and in the 1960s social housing & other community projects further enhanced this new urban identity of Deurne.
From 1972 onward Deurne was subject to theurban exodus and theurban sprawl whereby people moved from the dense urban centres towards thesuburbs. As a result, the population began to diminish in numbers and the remaining population became older.
In 1983 Deurne was absorbed into the municipality of Greater Antwerp (see :Antwerp) whereby Deurne became one of the 9 districts. In 2001 Antwerp was decentralised, Deurne once again has its own elected council, not a city council but a district council, not a mayor but a 'chairman of the district governing board'...
Deurne has one of the oldest still functioning airports in the world, established in 1923.Antwerp Airport is a regional airport with only a limited number of flights a day.Located at the airport is the Stampe & Vertongen Museum, at the location of the old aircraft production company of the same name.
The members of the district college between Januari 1, 2019 and 31 December 2024 are:
| District college | |
|---|---|
| Districts chairman | Tjerk Sekeris (N-VA) |
| District aldermen | |
The district council of Deurne has a total of 29 seats. De district council chairman is Frank Geudens (SP.A).
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VLM Airlines has its head office on the grounds ofAntwerp International Airport in Deurne; the office is alsoCityJet'sAntwerp office.[3][4]
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
