Mol, Belgium


Mol is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the town of Mol. On January 1, 2014 Mol had a total population of 35,395 inhabitants. The total area is 114.19 km² which gives a population density of 307 inhabitants per km².
Mol is a popular holiday resort, with many lakes surrounded by woods. There are two main tourist lakes:
Furthermore, there is a Sun Parks holiday centre called "Kempense Meren" with an indoor swimming pool.The museum of Jakob Smits is located in the former vicarage of Mol-Sluis. This displays works of the artist Jakob Smits and other painters of the Molse School, who were attracted to the area by its rustic views including several windmills.
In the north-east corner of Mol, near the Dutch border, lies the Norbertine Postel Abbey. Mol is also home to the SCK•CEN Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, the Flemish institute for technological research and a European School. The first industries in Mol were the Vieille Montagne company and the explosive factory N.V. La Forcite. In 1872 the Sablières et Carrières Réunies, now Sibelco, was founded in order to extract the silica sand layers in Mol for industrial applications. The company became the global market leader in this sector with production sites all over the world.
The 15 chapels were built by Pater Helsen in 1815 with 14 co-workers of the region. It is a protected monument.

Municipality structure

The municipality of Mol is divided in different townships respectively named:
  • Mol-Centrum
  • Mol-:nl:Achterbos |Achterbos
  • Mol-Donk
  • Mol-Ezaart
  • Mol-Ginderbuiten
  • Mol-Gompel
  • Mol-Heidehuizen
  • Mol-Millegem
  • Mol-Postel
  • Mol-Rauw
  • Mol-Sluis
  • Mol-Wezel

    Places of interest

Civil architecture

  • Waterlock along the canal Dessel-Schoten
  • Bailey bridge
  • Mill of Ezaart Ezaart
  • Casino

    Religious architecture

  • Saint-Peter and Paul church
  • The Postel Abbey
  • The 15 chapels in Achterbos Achterbos
  • Saint-Willibrord chapel
  • Lourdes cave
  • Saint-Bernard church

    Museum

  • Jakob Smitsmuseum in Sluis. Smits was a central artist to the Molse School. The museum's collection contains mostly works of his alongside several other artists of the Molse School.

    Education

is located in the city.

Notable born or raised inhabitants