Puurs

Geschiedenis

Puurs is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. It is located in the Flemish Region. The municipality comprises the towns of Breendonk, Liezele, Kalfort, Ruisbroek (old spelling: Ruysbroeck) and Puurs proper. There is also the hamlet of Kalfort. On January 1, 2006, Puurs had a total population of 16,029. The total area is 33.41km² which gives a population density of 480 inhabitants per km².Puurs sits about 5 meters above main sea level. Its geography shows only minor elevation differences (so it's basically flat).Puurs is mainly rural, with some low intensity industry development in the North alongside the N16 motorway. However, because of its proximity to the cities of Antwerp and Brussels (both within a 25km radius) and its excellent accessibility, Puurs is developing increasingly into a residential town.HistorySigns of habitation dating back to the Iron Age, as well as early Roman and Merovingian times, have been found in Puurs.Arguably, the Benedictine abbeys of Saint-Cornelimunster of Aachen were the lords of Puurs in the 10th century A.D. In 1278 the municipality was acquired by the Abbey of Sint-Bernard's upon Scheldt, whose property it would remain until the end of the 18th century.