In 1899, three‑quarters of the Antwerp FC players left their club in protest. Among them was Alfred Grisar, who settled in the Kiel district and founded what would become Beerschot Athletic Club. This defection sparked a lasting legacy.
Antwerp fans mockingly dubbed the departed players and their supporters “Rats.” The nickname stuck, and soon everyone in and around Kiel — players and residents alike — was known as a “Kielse Rat.” What began as ridicule transformed into a badge of pride for the purple‑and‑white community.
Today, the name lives on in chants and derby atmospheres. For Beerschot fans, the “Kielse Rat” is both identity and heritage, weaving itself into the cultural tapestry of Antwerp football.
Sources. Story: ['Source Story: https://www.volksverhalen.be/Antwerpen_KielseRatten', 'Source Story: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K_Beerschot_VA'] Photos: Source Photo: Rijksmuseum, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
