Editing Antwerp Province

{{Short description|Province of Belgium}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| name               = Antwerp Province
| native_name        = {{native name|nl|Provincie Antwerpen}}
| native_name_lang   = nl
| settlement_type    = [[Provinces of Belgium|Province]]
| image_flag         = Flag of Antwerp.svg
| flag_size          = 
| image_shield       = Wapen van de provincie Antwerpen.svg
| shield_size        = 120px
| image_map          = Antwerpen in Belgium 2025.png
| coordinates        = {{coord|51|13|N|04|25|E|region:BE-VAN_type:adm2nd|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{BEL}}
| subdivision_type1  = Region
| subdivision_name1  = {{BE-VLG}}
| seat_type          = Capital<br/>{{small|(and largest city)}}
| seat               = [[Antwerp]]
| leader_title       = Governor
| leader_name        = [[Cathy Berx]] ([[Christian Democratic and Flemish|CD&V]])
| area_total_km2     = 2,876
| area_footnotes     = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bestat.statbel.fgov.be/bestat/|title=be.STAT|publisher=bestat.statbel.fgov.be}}</ref>
| population_total   = 1,926,522
| population_footnotes = 
| population_as_of   = 1 January 2024 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://statbel.fgov.be/nl/themas/bevolking/structuur-van-de-bevolking|title=Structuur van de bevolking |publisher=Statbel}}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = auto
| demographics_type1 = GDP
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web | url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tgs00003/default/table?lang=en | title=EU regions by GDP, Eurostat|access-date=18 September 2023}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = Total
| demographics1_info1 = €107.413 billion (2022)
| iso_code           = BE-VAN
| blank_name_sec2    = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2021)
| blank_info_sec2    = 0.950<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|title=Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab|url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/BEL/?levels=1%2B4&interpolation=1&extrapolation=0&nearest_real=0&years=2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729165624/https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/BEL/?levels=1%2B4&interpolation=1&extrapolation=0&nearest_real=0&years=2019 |archive-date=2021-07-29 }}</ref><br/>{{color|green|very high}} · [[List of Belgian provinces by Human Development Index|3rd of 11]]
| website            = {{URL|http://www.provincieantwerpen.be/}}
| image_blank_emblem = Provincie Antwerp.svg
| blank_emblem_type  = [[Brandmark]]
| blank_emblem_size  = 120px
}}

'''Antwerp Province''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|æ|n|t|w|ɜr|p}}; {{langx|nl|Provincie Antwerpen}} {{IPA|nl|proːˈvɪnsi ˈɑntʋɛrpə(n)||}}; {{langx|fr|Province d'Anvers}}; {{langx|de|Provinz Antwerpen}}), between 1815 and 1830 known as '''Central Brabant''' ({{langx|nl|Midden-Brabant}} {{IPA|nl|ˌmɪdə(m)ˈbraːbɑnt|}}, {{langx|fr|Brabant-Central}}, {{langx|de|Mittel-Brabant}}), is the northernmost [[Provinces of Belgium|province]] both of the [[Flemish Region]], also called [[Flanders]], and of [[Belgium]]. It borders on the [[North Brabant]] province of the [[Netherlands]] to the north and the Belgian provinces of [[Limburg (Belgium)|Limburg]], [[Flemish Brabant]] and [[East Flanders]]. Its capital is [[Antwerp]], which includes the [[Port of Antwerp]], the second-largest [[Port|seaport]] in Europe. It has an area of {{cvt|2876|km2}}, and with over 1.92 million inhabitants as of January 2024, is the country's most populous province. The province consists of three [[Arrondissements of Belgium|arrondissements]]: Antwerp, [[Mechelen]] and [[Turnhout]]. The eastern part of the province comprises the main part of the [[Campine]] region.

==History==
During the early [[Middle Ages]] the region was part of the [[Francia|Frankish Empire]], which was divided into several ''[[Pagus|pagi]]''. The territory of the present-day province belonged to several ''pagi'' of which the region around what would become the city of [[Antwerp]] belonged to the Pagus Renesium. The [[Toxandria|Pagus Toxandria]] stretched from [[North Brabant]] into the [[Campine]] region. To the south there was the Pagus Bracbatinsis and the [[Hesbaye|Pagus Hasbaniensis]]. In 843 the [[Carolingian Empire]] of [[Charlemagne]] was divided among his sons and the river [[Scheldt]] became the border between [[West Francia]] and [[East Francia]]. In 974 [[Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto II]] established the [[Margraviate of Antwerp]] as a defence against the [[County of Flanders]].

[[File:Sebastiaan Vrancx (1573-1647) - De plundering van Wommelgem (1625-1630) - Düsseldorf Museum Kunstpalast 15-08-2012 15-08-12.JPG|thumb|240px|The aftermath of the plundering of the village of [[Wommelgem]] in 1589. [[Eighty Years' War]], painting by [[Sebastiaen Vrancx]].]]
In 1106, [[Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry V]] granted the Margraviate to [[Godfrey I of Leuven]]. His descendants would from 1235 onwards become the Dukes of Brabant and the region itself was the northern part of the [[Duchy of Brabant]]. In 1430 the Duchy became part of the [[Duchy of Burgundy]] until 1477 when it fell to the [[House of Habsburg]]. In 1713, at the end of the [[Spanish Succession War]] the region became part of the [[Austrian Netherlands]] until 1794, with in 1790 the short lived [[United States of Belgium]]. On 1 October 1795 the former Austrian Netherlands were annexed by France under the [[French Directory]].

The modern province was created as the ''[[Deux-Nèthes|Department of the two Netes]]'' during the [[First French Empire]] (when the [[Southern Netherlands]] were part of France). After the defeat of [[Napoleon]], the territory became part of the [[United Kingdom of the Netherlands]] as the province of '''Central Brabant''', distinguishing it from [[North Brabant]] and [[Province of Brabant|South Brabant]]. In 1830, after [[Belgian Revolution|Belgium's independence]] the province was renamed Antwerp (after its major city and capital).

===Prefects from 1800 until 1814===
Prefects of the [[Deux-Nèthes|Department of the two Netes]] during the [[First French Empire]]
* [[Marquis]] [[Charles Joseph Fortuné d'Herbouville]] (1800–1805)
* [[Charles Cochon]] (1805–1808)
* [[Marc René Marie de Voyer d'Argenson]] (1809–1813)
* [[Baron]] [[Jacques Fortunat de Savoye-Rollin]] (1813–1814)

===Governors from 1815 until 1830===
Governors of the province of Antwerp during the [[United Kingdom of the Netherlands]]
* [[Charles&ndash;Louis van Keverberg van Kessel]] (1815–1817)
* [[Pierre Joseph Pycke]] (1817–1820)
* [[Leonard Pierre Joseph du Bus de Gisignies]] (1820–1823)
* [[André Charles Membrede]] (1823–1828)
* [[Edmond Charles Giullaume Ghislain de la Coste]] (1828–1829)
* [[Alexandre François Ghislain van der Fosse]] (1830)

===Governors since 1830===
Governors of the Belgian province of Antwerp 
*[[François de Robiano]] (1830–1831)
*[[Jean-François Tielemans]] (1831)
*[[Charles Rogier]] (1831–1832 and 1834–1840)
*[[Henri de Brouckère]] (1840–1844)
*[[Jules Malou]] (1844–1845)
*[[Jan Teichmann]] (1845–1862)
*[[Edward Pycke d'Ideghem]] (1862–1887)
*[[Charles du Bois de Vroylande]] (1887–1888)
*[[Edward Osy de Zegwaart]] (1889–1900)
*[[Fredegand Cogels]] (1900–1907)
*[[Louis de Brouchoven de Bergeyck]] (1907–1908)
*[[Ferdinand de Baillet-Latour]] (1908–1912)
*[[Gaston van de Werve de Schilde]] (1912–1923)
*[[Georges Holvoet]] (1923–1945)
*[[Richard Declerck]] (1946–1966)
*[[Andries Kinsbergen]] (1967–1993)
*[[Camille Paulus]] (1993–2008)
*[[Cathy Berx]] (since 2008)

===Population===
* 1846: 406,354
* 1856: 434,485
* 1866: 456,607
* 1880: 577,232
* 1890: 700,019
* 1900: 819,159
* 1910: 968,677
* 1920: 1,016,963
* 1930: 1,173,363
* 1947: 1,281,333
* 2008: 1,715,707
* 2010: 1,744,862

==Language==
[[File:WIKITONGUES- Jan speaking Brabants.webm|thumb|A Brabantian speaker, recorded in [[Slovakia]].]]
As in all [[Flanders|Flemish provinces]], the official and standard language of the Antwerp province is [[Dutch language|Dutch]]. As with [[Flemish Brabant]], [[North Brabant]] and [[Brussels]], the local dialect is a [[Brabantian dialect|Brabantian]] variety.

== Religion ==
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religion in Antwerp (2008)<ref name=ARDA/>
|label1 = [[Roman Catholicism]]
|value1 = 73.3
|color1 = DodgerBlue
|label2 = Non-religious
|value2 = 24.1
|color2 = Grey
|label3 = Other religion
|value3 = 2.6
|color3 = Yellow
}}
According to the ''International Social Survey Programme 2008: Religion III'' by the [[Association of Religion Data Archives]],<ref name=ARDA>{{cite web |url=http://www.thearda.com/Archive/Files/Analysis/ISSP08/ISSP08_Var280_1.asp |title=Analysis {{!}} International Social Survey Programme 2008: Religion III {{!}} Data Archive {{!}} The Association of Religion Data Archives |website=www.thearda.com |access-date=2017-04-17}}</ref> 73.3% of Antwerp's population identify themselves as [[Catholic Church|Catholics]], 24.1% as [[Irreligion|non-religious]], 2.6% identify themselves as of other religions.

==Government==
The province of Antwerp has a provincial council, elected every six years, and an executive deputation headed by a governor. The current governor is [[Cathy Berx]], appointed in 2008 by the [[Flemish Government]].

The [[2018 Belgian local elections|last elections]] were held on 14 October 2018. The following parties were elected to the 36-member council:

*{{Color box|yellow|border=darkgray}} [[New Flemish Alliance]] (N-VA): 14 seats
*{{Color box|orange|border=darkgray}} [[Christian Democratic and Flemish]] (CD&V): 6 seats
*{{Color box|brown|border=darkgray}} [[Flemish Interest]] (Vlaams Belang): 6 seats
*{{Color box|green|border=darkgray}} [[Groen (political party)|Green]] (Groen): 5 seats
*{{Color box|blue|border=darkgray}} [[Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats]] (Open Vld): 2 seats
*{{Color box|red|border=darkgray}} [[Socialist Party – Different]] (sp.a): 2 seats
*{{Color box|Maroon|border=darkgray||}} [[Workers' Party of Belgium]] (PVDA+): 1 seat

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |Party or alliance
! colspan="2" |9 October 1994<ref name="fgov">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ibzdgip.fgov.be/result/nl/main.html|title=Verkiezingsdatabase|website=www.ibzdgip.fgov.be}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |8 October 2000
! colspan="2" |8 October 2006
! colspan="2" |14 October 2012
! colspan="2" |14 October 2018
|-
! colspan="2" |Vote share/seats
!%
!72
!%
!72
!%
!72
!%
!72
!%
!36
|-
|
|<small>PVV<sup>1</sup> / VLD<sup>2</sup> / VLD-Vivant<sup>3</sup> / Open Vld<sup>4</sup></small>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|10.9
|7
|9.1
|2
|-
|
|<small>AGALEV<sup>1</sup> / Groen!<sup>2</sup> / Groen<sup>3</sup></small>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|9.3
|6
|14.3
|5
|-
|
|<small>SP<sup>1</sup> / sp.a-Spirit<sup>2</sup> / Stadslijst (sp.a-CD&V)<sup>3</sup> / sp.a<sup>4</sup></small>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|12.8
|'''10'''
|8
|2
|-
|
|<small>CVP<sup>1</sup> / Antw'94 (CVP-VU)<sup>2</sup> / CD&V-N-VA<sup>3</sup> / CD&V<sup>4</sup></small>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|16.8
|'''13'''
|15.4
|'''6'''
|-
|
|<small>VU<sup>1</sup> / VU&ID<sup>2</sup>/ N-VA<sup>3</sup></small>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|35.9
|'''27'''
|32.8
|'''14'''
|-
|
|<small>Vlaams Blok<sup>1</sup> / Vlaams Belang-VLOT<sup>2</sup> / Vlaams Belang<sup>3</sup></small>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|10.9
|7
|14.2
|6
|-
|
|<small>PVDA<sup>1</sup> / PVDA+<sup>2</sup></small>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|3.4
|2
|4.5
|1
|-
|
|<small>D-SA</small>
| -
|
| -
|
| -
|
| -
|
|0.6
|0
|-
|
|Piratenpartij
|
|
|
|
|
|
|0.5
|
|0.6
|0
|-
|
|<small>Be.One</small>
| -
|
| -
|
| -
|
| -
|
|0.2
|0
|-
|
|SamBA
| -
|
| -
|
| -
|
| -
|
|0.2
|0
|-
|
|<small>USE</small>
| -
|
| -
|
| -
|
| -
|
|0.1
|0
|-
! colspan="2" |{{nowrap|Total votes}}
! colspan="2" |
! colspan="2" |
! colspan="2" |
! colspan="2" |1,105,274
! colspan="2" |1,137,390
|-
! colspan="2" |Turnout %
! colspan="2" |
! colspan="2" |
! colspan="2" |
! colspan="2" |
! colspan="2" |
|-
! colspan="2" |Blank and invalid %
! colspan="2" |
! colspan="2" |
! colspan="2" |
! colspan="2" |
! colspan="2" |
|}

==Geography==
* Highest point: ''Beerzelberg'' (55 m) located in the [[Municipalities of Belgium|municipality]] of [[Putte]].
* Most important rivers: [[Scheldt]], [[Rupel]], [[Grote Nete]], [[Kleine Nete]]

==Transportation==
The province has a network of roads, railroads, canals and rivers which provide a modern infrastructure. Historically, the traffic infrastructure was an important element of connecting the [[Port of Antwerp]] with the [[Ruhr Area]] in [[North Rhine-Westphalia]], Germany. Both the [[Iron Rhine]] railroad and the [[European route E313|E313]] (''King [[Baudouin I of Belgium|Baudouin]] highway'') and [[European route E34|E34]] [[highway]] connect Antwerp with the Ruhr Area.

Of the [[International E-road network]], the [[European route E313|E313]], [[European route E19|E19]], and [[European route E34|E34]] run through parts of the province. The [[Kennedy Tunnel]] and the [[Liefkenshoek Tunnel]] connect the highway network of the province with [[East Flanders]] and [[Ghent]]. In addition a new [[Oosterweelconnection]] is under consideration.

The railroads connect the major cities of the province, such as Antwerp, [[Mechelen]], [[Herentals]], [[Turnhout]] and [[Mol, Belgium|Mol]]. The [[Iron Rhine]] connects Antwerp with [[Mönchengladbach]] in Germany. The new [[High-speed rail|High Speed Train]] connects [[Antwerpen-Centraal railway station]] with [[Brussels]] ([[HSL 4]]) and [[Amsterdam]] ([[HSL-Zuid]]) at high speed. [[Antwerp International Airport]], located in [[Deurne, Belgium|Deurne]], is a regional airport.

The river [[Schelde]], an important [[waterway]], connects the Port of Antwerp with the [[North Sea]]. The [[Albert Canal]] connects the Scheldt in Antwerp with the [[Meuse]] and [[Liège]]. Other canals are the Canal [[Dessel]] – [[Kwaadmechelen]], [[Schoten]] – Turnhout – Dessel, and Herentals – [[Bocholt, Belgium|Bocholt]] which flows into the Nete canal.

==Tourism==
[[File:OLV-Kathedraal.jpg|thumb|200px|right|City of [[Antwerp]]. Main tourist attraction.]]
The province contains several historical cities, such as Antwerp, Mechelen, Turnhout, Herentals and [[Lier, Belgium|Lier]]. The Campine region is becoming a popular destination for tourists searching for a quiet and relaxed weekend. Old farms were transformed into bed and breakfast-hotels, the restaurant and café business is very active and an ingenious network for bicycle tours has come to life in recent years. Here and there are still areas of large heathland - and forests, such as the [[Kalmthoutse Heide]] (E: Kalmthout heathland) in [[Kalmthout]], the [[marshland|moor]]s around Turnhout, the ''Liereman'' ([[Oud-Turnhout]]) and the ''Prinsenpark'' in [[Retie]]. In a number of villages one can still see the typical Campine ''langgevelboerderijen'' (E: ''long facade farms'').

==Education and research==
The province is home to several [[List of schools in Antwerp|educational institutions]] such as the [[University of Antwerp]] and [[Karel de Grote University of Applied Sciences and Arts]]. Several research institutions are located in the province, such as the [[SCK•CEN]], the European [[Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements]] (IRMM) and the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO).

International schools in Antwerp include [[Antwerp International School]] and [[Lycée Français International d'Anvers]].

==Economy==
The [[Gross domestic product]] (GDP) of the province was 88 billion € in 2018. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was €41,900  or 139% of the EU27 average in the same year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/10474907/1-05032020-AP-EN.pdf/81807e19-e4c8-2e53-c98a-933f5bf30f58 |title=Regional GDP per capita ranged from 30% to 263% of the EU average in 2018 |website=Eurostat }}</ref>

The Port of Antwerp is the economic heart of the province. Until the agricultural crisis of 1880, the eastern part of the province was a largely agricultural region. The industrial development of the eastern part of the province, part of the [[Campine]] region, started at the end of the 19th century when industry established itself in the region. The availability of cheap labor, new roads, canals, tramways and railroads such as the [[Iron Rhine]], stimulated the settlement of new industry. A [[brick]]making industry was established alongside the canals, paper and printing business in Turnhout, as were non-ferrous [[metallurgy]] in Balen-Nete, dynamite factories in [[Arendonk]] and [[Balen]], [[tobacco]] and cigar factories in Arendonk, and the first shoe factory in Herentals. During the 1920s, the industrial expansion of the region continued with the [[radium]] and [[copper]] factories in [[Olen, Belgium|Olen]], the glass factory in Mol-Gompel and the diamond industry in [[Grobbendonk]] and [[Nijlen]].

In the 20th century the first nuclear installation in Belgium was established at the [[SCK•CEN]] in Mol in 1962. The European [[Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements]] (IRMM), one of the EU [[Joint Research Centre (European Commission)|Joint Research Centre]]s, was founded in [[Geel]] in 1957 as a result of the [[Treaty of Rome]]. Innotek is a technology centre located in Geel and is part of the European Business and Innovation Centre Network (EBN). Industry in the Campine region of the province is mainly located alongside the [[European route E313|E313]], the [[European route E34|E34]] and the [[Albert Canal]].

=== Unemployment ===
The unemployment rate stood at 5.9% in 2017 and was lower than the national average.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=de&pcode=tgs00010&plugin=1|title=Regional Unemployment by NUTS2 Region|website=Eurostat}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!2006
!2007
!2008
!2009
!2010
!2011
!2012
!2013
!2014
!2015
!2016
!2017
!2018
|-
|'''unemployment rate'''<br/>(in %)
|5.7 
|5.0
|4.6
|5.7  
|6.0
|5.7
|5.3
|6.2
|6.1
|6.1
|6.1
|5.9
|4.3
|}

===Chemical industry===
After [[World War II]] the Port of Antwerp was expanded, and on its premises several chemical factories and [[oil refineries]] were established, including facilities of [[Bayer]], [[BASF]], and [[Monsanto]]. The chemical and [[petrochemical industry]] is widely represented in the port region and comprises the world's second-largest cluster petrochemical industry cluster, after that of [[Houston, Texas|Houston]] (United States). Amoco Chemical Belgium N.V., now part of [[BP]], was founded in Geel in 1967.

A pharmaceutical industry was founded in [[Beerse]] in the 1960s, with [[Janssen Pharmaceutica]] and more recently with [[Genzyme]] in Geel. [[Soudal]] ([[silicon]]) in Turnhout and [[Ravago]] ([[plastics]]) in [[Arendonk]] became leading companies in their markets.

===Diamond===
The [[diamond]] industry and trade is traditionally located in [[Antwerp diamond district|Antwerp]]. At the end of the 19th century Hendrik Cassiers founded a diamond-cutting company outside Antwerp, in [[Grobbendonk]]. Hendrik Cassiers and Frans Dela Montagne laid the foundations of the diamond industry in the Campine region. The industry would settle in [[Nijlen]], [[Herenthout]], [[Bevel]], [[Kessel, Belgium|Kessel]], [[Vorselaar]] and [[Berlaar]].

===Paper===
The region around Turnhout became famous for its printing business, with companies such as [[Brepols]], which roots date back to 1796 when [[Pieter Corbeels]] established his printing business in Turnhout.<ref>De Turnhoutse Kempen, haar economische en sociale betekenis, Vlaams Economisch Verbond, pp. 88-90</ref> In 1833, [[Van Genechten Packaging|Van Genechten N.V.]], Splichal N.V. in 1856, Mesmaekers Freres in 1859, Meses-Goris in 1872, [[Biermans (Company)|L. Biermans]] in 1875, Poupaert in 1881, La Belgica N.V. in 1907, [[Proost (company)|H. Proost & Co]] in 1913, J. Van Mierlo-Proost in 1918, Lityca in 1932 and Veloutex in 1951. More recently in 1970, [[Cartamundi]] was established, a world leader in playing cards.

===Metallurgies===
While [[Wallonia]] was famous for its steel industry, the [[Campine]] region became renowned for its [[non-ferrous]] [[Metallurgy|metallurgies]]. The [[Campine]] region was scarcely populated in the 19th century, but with the establishment of [[canal]]s, the [[Iron Rhine]] and cheap labor, several metallurgies were established in the region.<ref>De Turnhoutse Kempen, haar economische en sociale betekenis, Vlaams Economisch Verbond, pp. 94-99</ref> In 1888-1889 the metallurgy [[Vieille Montagne|La Vieille Montagne]] was founded in [[Balen|Balen-Nete]], close to the Iron Rhine and the canal to [[Beringen, Belgium|Beverlo]]. The company had its roots in the exploitation of the [[zinc]] mines of [[Neutral Moresnet|Moresnet]].

The [[Union Minière du Haut Katanga]] founded the Société Générale Métallurgique de Hoboken in [[Olen, Belgium|Olen]], which was established along the Iron Rhine and the [[Albert Canal]]. The factory produced [[radium]], [[cobalt]] and [[copper]] from the mines of the Union Minière in [[Katanga Province|Katanga]], [[Belgian Congo]] and [[Rhodesia]]. Along the canal Turnhout-[[Schoten]], the Métallurgique de la Campine was established in 1910 for the production of [[lead]] and [[antimony]]. La Metallo-Chimique was established in 1919; this specialized in the production of copper.

===Glass===
In 1872, the Sablières et Carrières Réunies (SCR), now [[Sibelco]], was founded to extract the [[silica]] sand layers in Mol for industrial applications ([[glass]]). In 1920 the glass bottle manufacturer Beles Réunios was set up in Mol-Donk.

In 1921, a group of Belgian banks, the Mutuelle Mobilière & Immobilière, the [[Société Générale de Belgique]], the [[Banque de Bruxelles]] and the Financière de Transport, together with the American group [[Libbey Owens Ford|Libbey-Owens]], founded the Cie Internationale pour la fabrication mécanique de Verre in [[Mol, Belgium|Mol Gompel]]. In 1931, due to the economic crisis, the company merged into Glaces et Verres (Glaver).<ref>''De Turnhoutse Kempen, haar economische en sociale betekenis'', Vlaams Economisch Verbond, pp. 102-104</ref> In 1961, Glaver merged with Univerbel to form [[Glaverbel]].

===Dynamite===
Given that the Campine region was sparsely populated, several [[dynamite]] factories were established in the region. In 1875, the Societe Anonyme d'Arendonk was established which premises would later become part of [[Ravago]]. In 1881 La Forcite N.V. was established near [[Balen]], which was later acquired in 1920 by the Poudreries Réunies de Belgique (PRB). In 1887 a factory was founded near Herentals, which was closed due to the vicinity to the city. The factories produced explosives for the [[Mining|mines]] and [[quarries]]. The factories in the province are now closed down.

===Textiles===
Historically, [[wool]] processing industry was based on the wool from the [[sheep]] which were kept on the [[Campine]] [[Heath (habitat)|heath]]. The centre of the textile industry in the province could be found in Turnhout. Wool processing companies such as Wolspinnerij Van Iersel, Spinnerij en Weverij Van Hoof, and De Wollendekensfabriek Van Doren were located in Mol.

===Tobacco===
At the end of the 19th century [[Arendonk]] became the centre of the tobacco industry. Additional factories were founded in Turnhout, Mol, Geel and Herentals.<ref>De Turnhoutse Kempen, haar economische en sociale betekenis, Vlaams Economisch Verbond, pp. 90-93</ref> After World War II, the ALTO cigar factory was founded by [[Frans Van den Bergh]] who would also play an important role at [[Janssen Pharmaceutica]].

==Administrative subdivisions==
[[File:Kaart gemeenten Provincie Antwerpen 2025.png|left|500px]]
The province is divided into three administrative [[Arrondissements of Belgium|arrondissement]]s (''arrondissementen'' in [[Dutch language|Dutch]]) containing 67 [[Municipalities of Belgium|municipalities]] (numbers refer to the location of the municipalities on the map shown in this section):

{| style="vertical-align:top;"
| style="width:27ex;vertical-align:top;padding-left:4px;background:#dddddd;white-space:nowrap;" | [[Arrondissement of Antwerp]]:
| style="width:27ex;vertical-align:top;padding-left:4px;background:#dddddd;white-space:nowrap;" | [[Arrondissement of Mechelen]]:
| style="width:27ex;vertical-align:top;padding-left:4px;background:#dddddd;white-space:nowrap;" | [[Arrondissement of Turnhout]]:
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;background:#ddffff;" |
* <span style="visibility:hidden;">0</span>1. [[Aartselaar]]
* <span style="visibility:hidden;">0</span>2. [[Antwerp|Antwerp (Antwerpen)]]
* <span style="visibility:hidden;">0</span>8. [[Boechout]]
* 10. [[Boom, Antwerp|Boom]]
* 12. [[Brasschaat]]
* 13. [[Brecht, Belgium|Brecht]]
* 16. [[Edegem]]
* 17. [[Essen, Belgium|Essen]]
* 21. [[Hemiksem]]
* 26. [[Hove, Belgium|Hove]]
* 28. [[Kalmthout]]
* 29. [[Kapellen, Belgium|Kapellen]]
* 31. [[Kontich]]
* 35. [[Lint, Antwerp|Lint]]
* 36. [[Malle]]
* 41. [[Mortsel]]
* 42. [[Niel, Belgium|Niel]]
* 48. [[Ranst]]
* 52. [[Rumst]]
* 53. [[Schelle]]
* 54. [[Schilde]]
* 55. [[Schoten]]
* 57 [[Stabroek]]
* 62. [[Wijnegem]]
* 64. [[Wommelgem]]
* 65. [[Wuustwezel]]
* 66. [[Zandhoven]]
* 67. [[Zoersel]]
| style="vertical-align:top;background:#eeeeee" |
* <span style="visibility:hidden;">0</span>7. [[Berlaar]]
* <span style="visibility:hidden;">0</span>9. [[Bonheiden]]
* 11. [[Bornem]]
* 15. [[Duffel]]
* 20. [[Heist-op-den-Berg]]
* 33. [[Lier, Belgium|Lier]]
* 37. [[Mechelen]]
* 43. [[Nijlen]]
* 46. [[Putte]]
* 47. [[Puurs-Sint-Amands]]
* 56. [[Sint-Katelijne-Waver]]
* 63. [[Willebroek]]
| style="vertical-align:top;background:#ddffff;" |
* <span style="visibility:hidden;">0</span>3. [[Arendonk]]
* <span style="visibility:hidden;">0</span>4. [[Baarle-Hertog]]
* <span style="visibility:hidden;">0</span>5. [[Balen]]
* <span style="visibility:hidden;">0</span>6. [[Beerse]]
* 14. [[Dessel]]
* 18. [[Geel]]
* 19. [[Grobbendonk]]
* 22. [[Herentals]]
* 23. [[Herenthout]]
* 24. [[Herselt]]
* 25. [[Hoogstraten]]
* 27. [[Hulshout]]
* 30. [[Kasterlee]]
* 32. [[Laakdal]]
* 34. [[Lille, Belgium|Lille]]
* 38. [[Meerhout]]
* 39. [[Merksplas]]
* 40. [[Mol (Belgium)|Mol]]
* 44. [[Olen, Belgium|Olen]]
* 45. [[Oud-Turnhout]]
* 49. [[Ravels]]
* 50. [[Retie]]
* 51. [[Rijkevorsel]]
* 58. [[Turnhout]]
* 59. [[Vorselaar]]
* 60. [[Vosselaar]]
* 61. [[Westerlo]]
|}

==See also==
*[[CIPAL]]
*[[List of schools in Antwerp]]
*[[Voorderweert]]

==References==
* Steve Heylen, Bart De Nil, Bart D’hondt, Sophie Gyselinck, Hanne Van Herck en Donald Weber, ''Geschiedenis van de provincie Antwerpen. Een politieke biografie'', Antwerpen, Provinciebestuur Antwerpen, 2005, 2 volumes
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{official website|http://www.provant.be/}} {{in lang|nl}}
*[http://flagspot.net/flags/be-van.html Flag of the Antwerp province]

{{Subdivisions of Belgium}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Antwerp Province}}
[[Category:Antwerp Province| ]]
[[Category:Brabant]]
[[Category:Provinces of Flanders]]