Puurs facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Puurs
Town
Puurs train station
Flag Seal
Puurs Location in Belgium
Country	Belgium
Region	Flemish Region
Province	Antwerp
Arrondissement	Mechelen
Municipality	Puurs-Sint-Amands
Area
• Total	33.41 km2 (12.90 sq mi)
Population  (2021)
• Total	17,684
• Density	529.30/km2 (1,370.89/sq mi)
Time zone	CET
Postal code	2870
Dialing code	03, 052

Puurs is a town in Belgium. It used to be its own municipality. Puurs is located in the Antwerp province, which is part of the Flemish Region.

The former municipality included several smaller towns. These were Breendonk, Liezele, Kalfort, Ruisbroek, and Puurs itself. In 2021, about 17,684 people lived in Puurs. The total area of Puurs is about 33.41 square kilometers.

Puurs is located about 5 meters above sea level. The land is mostly flat. It is a rural area, meaning it has many farms and open spaces. There are also some small factories in the north. Puurs is close to big cities like Antwerp and Brussels. Because of this, it is becoming a popular place for people to live.

On January 1, 2019, Puurs and Sint-Amands joined together. They formed a new, larger municipality called Puurs-Sint-Amands.

History of Puurs

People have lived in the Puurs area for a very long time. Evidence shows that people were here during the Iron Age. This was a time when people started using iron tools. Signs of early Roman and Merovingian settlements have also been found.

In the 10th century, a group of monks from an abbey in Aachen were in charge of Puurs. Later, in 1278, another abbey, the Abbey of Sint-Bernard's, took over. They owned the land until the late 1700s.

Places to Visit in Puurs

Saint-Peter Church

The Saint-Peter Church in Puurs is a very large church. Some people even call it the "cathedral" of the region. It was built in the 15th century. It stands on the site of an older Roman-style church. The tall bell tower was added later, in the late 1600s. The main part of the church was finished in 1744.

Asparagus Farming

The area around Kalfort is famous for its delicious asparagus. Asparagus is a green vegetable. People sometimes call it "white gold" because it is so special. Every year at the start of summer, a festival is held to celebrate this tasty crop.

Local Beer Production

The famous Duvel beer is made in Breendonk. This town is part of Puurs-Sint-Amands. The Duvel-Moortgat brewery makes this beer. It is sold all around the world. Every August, a long walking event called the Dodentocht (Death March) passes by the brewery. People walking in the event can enjoy free Duvel beer.

Fort Breendonk Memorial

Fort Breendonk was once a military fort. It was built before World War I to protect the city of Antwerp. During World War II, it was used as a prison camp by the Nazis. Today, the fort is kept as it was during the war. It is open for visitors to learn about its history. Since 1976, this fort has been part of the municipality of Willebroek.

Steam Railway Experience

The Dendermonde-Puurs Steam Railway is a special old train line. It connects Puurs with the town of Dendermonde. You can ride on old steam trains here. There is also a path next to the railway. This path is perfect for riding bicycles. Bikers can even go to Sint-Amands and follow a beautiful route along the Scheldt river.

COVID-19 Vaccine Production

Puurs is an important place for making the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in Europe. Starting in December 2020, vaccine doses were sent from Puurs. They traveled by special trucks and planes to places all over the world.

International Connections

Twin Towns

Puurs used to be connected with another town far away. This is called being "twinned" or "sister cities."

• Dębica in Poland

On November 13, 2020, the new municipality of Puurs-Sint-Amands ended its partnership with Dębica. This partnership had lasted for 20 years. The reason was a disagreement about a local policy in Dębica.

Famous People from Puurs

• Dina Tersago, who was crowned Miss Belgium in 2001.

See also

In Spanish: Puurs para niños