On Wednesday 5th April 2023 a ceremony was held to remember the 1943 bombing. This year the 80th anniversary.

On 5 April 1943 around half past four in the afternoon, Mortsel was hit by an allied bombing raid. The aim was to hit the German Erla aircraft factory on the Vredebaan, but the bombs mainly fell in the center with the sad balance of 936 dead, including more than 250 children, more than 1,000 injured and hundreds of homes in ruins. Among the fatalities, 34 were from Kontich.

A vigil will be held at the cemetery in Kontich on April 5 at 9 a.m. where the names of the victims will be called. The Peace Working Group of the Heritage Council wants to give a face to the people behind these names