Lode Craeybeckx
Encyclopedia
Lode Craeybeckx served as Mayor of Antwerp, Belgium
from 1947 until his death in 1976, becoming the longest serving mayor of the city in its history.
, while his mother came from Liège
. He studied at the Athenaeum of Antwerp before going to the new University of Ghent in 1917. For collaborating with the German occupiers during the First World War, he was sent to prison for five years, but he was released after two years.
Lode Craeybeckx married Irma Lauwers in 1921. They had two children, Hilde and Herman. From 1925 until 1931, he works as a journalist for the newspaper De Volksgazet.
In 1932, Craeybecks started to work as a lawyer and entered the world of politics. He became a councillor
in Deurne
for the Belgian Socialist Party
. The same year, he entered the Belgian Parliament, where he would stay until 1968. He was the successor of Willem Eekelers as mayor of Antwerp in 1947, and remained in that position for nearly thirty years, a record for the city. Lode Craeybeckx dies in 1976.
in 2003). The Middelheim, an open air museum for modern sculptures, was created in 1951. The city got improved traffic infrastructure and the city and Port of Antwerp
were massively expanded.
During this period, many of the older buildings of the city, ranging from the Middle Ages
to the 19th century, was replaced by modern high rise buildings, of which many have been criticized for being bland or ugly.
, which had an anti-resistance position and opposed the epuration after WWII.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
from 1947 until his death in 1976, becoming the longest serving mayor of the city in its history.
Biography
François Ferdinand Louis Craeybeckx, better known as Lode, was born in Antwerp in 1897. His father was a police man from LimburgLimburg (Belgium)
Limburg is the easternmost province of modern Flanders, which is one of the three main political and cultural sub-divisions of modern Belgium. It is located west of the river Meuse . It borders on the Dutch provinces of North Brabant and Limburg and the Belgian provinces of Liège, Flemish Brabant...
, while his mother came from Liège
Liège (province)
Liège is the easternmost province of Belgium and belongs to the Walloon Region. It is an area of French and German ethnicity. It borders on the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and in Belgium the provinces of Luxembourg, Namur, Walloon Brabant , and those of Flemish Brabant and Limburg . Its...
. He studied at the Athenaeum of Antwerp before going to the new University of Ghent in 1917. For collaborating with the German occupiers during the First World War, he was sent to prison for five years, but he was released after two years.
Lode Craeybeckx married Irma Lauwers in 1921. They had two children, Hilde and Herman. From 1925 until 1931, he works as a journalist for the newspaper De Volksgazet.
In 1932, Craeybecks started to work as a lawyer and entered the world of politics. He became a councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
in Deurne
Deurne
Deurne may refer to two towns:* Deurne, North Brabant, a municipality in North Brabant * Deurne, Belgium, a district of the city of Antwerp...
for the Belgian Socialist Party
Belgian Socialist Party
The Belgian Socialist Party was a democratic socialist party which existed in Belgium from 1945 to 1978.The BSP was founded by activists from the Belgian Labour Party , which was the first Belgian socialist party. It ceased to function during the Second World War, while Belgium was under Nazi...
. The same year, he entered the Belgian Parliament, where he would stay until 1968. He was the successor of Willem Eekelers as mayor of Antwerp in 1947, and remained in that position for nearly thirty years, a record for the city. Lode Craeybeckx dies in 1976.
Achievements
During his run as mayor, Antwerp was massively changed. The RUCA university (1965) and the UIA university (1971) were founded (both were merged with the older UFSIA in the University of AntwerpUniversity of Antwerp
The University of Antwerp is one of the major Belgian universities located in the city of Antwerp. The name is sometimes abbreviated as UA.-History:...
in 2003). The Middelheim, an open air museum for modern sculptures, was created in 1951. The city got improved traffic infrastructure and the city and Port of Antwerp
Port of Antwerp
The port of Antwerp, in Belgium, is a port in the heart of Europe accessible to capesize ships. Antwerp stands at the upper end of the tidal estuary of the Scheldt. The estuary is navigable by ships of more than 100,000 Gross Tons as far as 80 km inland. The inland location means that the port...
were massively expanded.
During this period, many of the older buildings of the city, ranging from the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
to the 19th century, was replaced by modern high rise buildings, of which many have been criticized for being bland or ugly.
The "Craeybeckx Incident"
In April 1964 had Craeybeckx a drunkyards row with a few Jews in a pub on the Grote Markt. He shouted in public "it's a pity that the German burning ovens dit not make disappear more of their sort". The upheaval was high, but he was nonetheless again at the top of the Socialist list at the next municipal elections, under the excuse that "can someone with so many services given to the movement just be put aside ?". According to his biographers he benefited from support during this serious controversy from the Antwerp Catholic press and of the conservative satirical weekly 't Pallieterke't Pallieterke
t Pallieterke is a satirical Flemish weekly. It is part of the Flemish movement and advocates Flemish independence. It is largely conservative in its editing, and although officially non-partisan, it is a close supporter of the far-right party Vlaams Belang....
, which had an anti-resistance position and opposed the epuration after WWII.