A mixture of modern and older neighbourhoods, this suburb has a good balance between residential, commercial and industrial activities.

This has been shown by the excavation of a Celtic burial site in Wilrijk, which is the oldest sign of civilization yet discovered in the region around Antwerp.

This document tells about the existence in 743 AD of a community living around the central square in Wilrijk which is called Bist.

One of the current theories is that the name Wilrijk is actually derived from the Gallo-Roman word Villariacum (meaning: "Part of the domain of a Roman villa").

These houses are called Hoven van plaisantie, some of these still exist even today: Klaverblad, Schoonselhof, Ieperman, Steytelinck, Middelheim, De Brandt, Hof Ter Beke.

It took Wilrijk 20 years to start rebuilding the houses, and in that time the population had to live in poor wooden huts.

Their function was taken over by the farmers in Wilrijk and they started delivering milk, vegetables and flowers to Antwerp.

On October 6, 1819 Wilrijk received its own coat of arms from King William I of the Netherlands and the Hoge Raad van Adel.

At the same time some important connections were built between these fortifications, leading to new roads and railroads in Wilrijk and even a railway station.

The architect of the province of Antwerp Eugeen Gife was given the task to design this new building, but it was the next mayor Jules Moretus (1870–1874) who would see the actual start of the construction.

In the 20th century some of the Hoven van plaisantie were demolished, and their large surrounding parks were used to construct new housing projects.

It was agreed to create a large industrial area of 1.5 km2 next to the important economical axes Antwerp-Boom (Boomsesteenweg (A12)).

Every district kept its own districtshuis (former town hall) with services like: information, social affaires, registry of births, deaths and marriages, etc.

Some of the powers reverted to the districts, including: the "look" of the town, youth policy, festivities, sports and communication.

Since he always protected people he got some respect, but he also made some strange noises, sounding like a goat, and that's why he also became known as a water devil.

This, of course, created only more discussion between the center of Antwerp and Wilrijk about who actually "owned" Lange Wapper.

In the period that Wilrijk was still a poor town, many people kept a little goat at home, to provide meat and milk if needed.

The liberals accused the Catholics of fraud, and because the people of Wilrijk didn't want to listen to them, they called them 'Goat heads'(Geitekoppen(Dutch language)).

In many towns there is an ancient custom to have an Annual Fair to create an opportunity for farmers to show and trade their livestock.

It consists of a weekend during which a large number of activities are organised: a painters competition, an old-timer rally, a funfair and art exhibitions.