Lovendegem

Lovendegem
Village and former municipality
Lovendegem, seen across the Ghent-Bruges Canal
Lovendegem, seen across the Ghent-Bruges Canal
Flag of Lovendegem
Flag
Official seal of Lovendegem
Seal
Lovendegem is located in Belgium
Lovendegem
Lovendegem
Location in Belgium
Coordinates: 51°06′N 03°36′E / 51.100°N 3.600°E / 51.100; 3.600
Country Belgium
RegionFlemish Region
ProvinceEast Flanders
ArrondissementGhent
MunicipalityLievegem
Area
[1]
 • Total
19.55 km2 (7.55 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total
9,703
 • Density500/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Time zoneCET
Postal code
9920, 9921
Dialing code09
Websitewww.lievegem.be

Lovendegem (Dutch pronunciation: [loːˈvɛndəɣɛm]) is a town and former municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the province of East Flanders. The municipality comprised the towns of Lovendegem proper and Vinderhoute.[2] In 2018, Lovendegem had a total population of 9,574. The total area is 19.48 km2.[3]

History

The name of the town was first recorded as Lovendenghiem in 1150,[4] but there are traces of human settlements back to the Iron Age. The name means "settlement of the people of Lubantos (person)". Lovendegem used to be a complicated patchwork of heerlijkheden (landed estates) and one barony. The religious wars of the late 16th century and the subsequent repression by the Iron Duke caused a near abandonment of Lovendegem. For most of its history, it was an agricultural community. From the 1960s onwards, Lovendegem developed into a residential town. and experienced a steady population growth.[5]

The Ghent-Bruges Canal crosses the municipality, with the town of Lovendegem to the north of the canal, and Vinderhoute to the south.

Effective 1 January 2019, Waarschoot, Lovendegem and Zomergem were merged into the new municipality of Lievegem.[6]

  • Lovendegem, townhall
    Lovendegem, townhall
  • Lovendegem, church: Sint Martinuskerk
    Lovendegem, church: Sint Martinuskerk
  • Industry
    Industry
  • Villa in Lovendegem
    Villa in Lovendegem

Famous inhabitants

References

  1. ^ a b "Bevolking per statistische sector - Sector 44036". Statistics Belgium. Retrieved 6 May 2022. Includes Vinderhoute
  2. ^ "Vinderhoute".
  3. ^ ""Wettelijke Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2018"". StatBel. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  4. ^ "Lovendegem".
  5. ^ "Lovendegem". Mijn platteland (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Drie kleintjes zijn liever samen groot: in 2019 worden inwoners wakker in Lievegem". Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 May 2022.