Mortsel

Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of Belgium - Belgische Gemeentewapens / Armorial de Belgique

MORTSEL

Province : Antwerpen

Official blazon

• (1880) D'or, à trois pals de gueules; l'écu sommé d'une image de St. Benoit tenant une crosse et un livre.
• (1993) In goud drie palen van keel. Het schild overtopt met een Sint-Benedictus houdende een boek en een staf, alles van natuurlijke kleur.

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on January 5, 1880 and confirmed on March 1, 1993.

The arms of Mortsel are derived from the arms of the Berthout family. The Cantincrode fortress in the municipality was established in the 11th century and became a possession of Willem II Berthout at the end of the 13th century. He rebuilt and significantly enlarged the fortress. The family later also became Lords of Cantecroy, to which the village of Mortsel belonged. Only in 1781 the village and estate were sold to the Helman de Termeeren family.

Already in the late 15th and 16th century the Mortsel council used the arms of the Berthout family, with the local patron saint, St. Benedict, as supporter. The present arms are based on that seal.

The arms in the Koffie Hag/Café Hag albums +/- 1930

Literature : Anonymous : Van evers en heiligen - wapens en vlaggen van de gemeenten in de provincie Antwerpen. Antwerpen, 1998.