ANTWERP - BELGIUM |
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Antwerp (Dutch: Antwerpen, French: Anvers) is a city and a municipality in
the province of Antwerp (and its capital), in Flanders, one of the three
regions of Belgium. On January 1st, 2000 Antwerp had a total population of
446,525 (216,580 males and 229,945 females). The total area is 203.80 km˛
which gives a population density of 2,191.00 inhabitants per km˛.
Antwerp is notable as a centre of the diamond industry, both for trading and
for cutting and polishing. Antwerp is also famous for its seaport with a lot
of cargo shipping. Since the 1990s it has been recognized as a fashion
design city, namely because of some graduates of the Royal Academy of Fine
arts - Fashion, became internationally successful. |
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The river Scheldt
passes through Antwerp. Antwerp is one of the largest ports in the world,
linked to the North Sea by the Schelde and the Westerschelde.
Antwerp is also notable for its zoo, which is one of the oldest and most
famous zoos in the world. The Antwerp Zoo is located in the middle of the
city and hosts more than 4000 animals. The Royal Society for Zoology has
been watching over the welfare of numerous animals and helping to protect
threatened animals for more than 100 years.
Antwerp is nicknamed "The Jerusalem of the West" because of its large
orthodox Jewish (hasidic) community.
In the Eighty Years' War on November 4, 1576, Spain captured the city and
nearly destroyed it after three days.
During World War II the city was occupied by Germany and was liberated on
September 4, 1944 when the British 11th Armored Division entered the city.
After this, the Germans attempted to destroy the port of Antwerp, which was
used by the Allies to bring new material ashore. The city was hit by more
V-2 rockets than any other target during the entire war, but the attack did
not succeed to destroy the port. The city itself was largely damaged however.
Antwerp hosted the 1920 Summer Olympics.
Municipality
The municipality comprises the city of Antwerp proper and several towns. So
it can be divided into 9 entities:
Antwerp (town)
Berchem
Berendrecht-Zandvliet-Lillo
Borgerhout
Deurne
Ekeren
Hoboken Antwerpen
Merksem
Wilrijk. |
