The HERA-B vertex detector

The design of the vertex detector of the HERA-B experiment at DESY is reviewed, and its components are described. The silicon microstrip detectors were optimized for radiation hardness: results from irradiation tests, reproducing the challenging situation in the experiment, are presented. Since spring 1999, much of the system has been installed and is operational. The detector performance and results from track and vertex reconstruction are presented.