Lede, Belgium

For the journalism term, see lead paragraph.
Lede
Municipality

Flag
Coat of arms
Lede

Location in Belgium

Coordinates: 50°58′N 03°59′E / 50.967°N 3.983°E / 50.967; 3.983Coordinates: 50°58′N 03°59′E / 50.967°N 3.983°E / 50.967; 3.983
Country Belgium
Community Flemish Community
Region Flemish Region
Province East Flanders
Arrondissement Aalst
Government
 • Mayor Roland Uyttendaele (CD&V)
 • Governing party/ies CD&V, VLD
Area
 • Total 29.69 km2 (11.46 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2016)[1]
 • Total 18,399
 • Density 620/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
Postal codes 9340
Area codes 053, 09
Website www.lede.be

Lede (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈleːdə]) is a municipality in the Belgian province of East Flanders, in the Denderstreek near the cities of Gent, Aalst and Dendermonde.

In 2011, Lede had a population of 17,882[2] and area of 29.69 km², a population density of 575 inhabitants per km². The current mayor of Lede is Roland Uyttendaele (CD&V).

Geography

The municipality comprises the sub-municipalities of Impe, Lede proper, Oordegem, Smetlede, Wanzele, and the hamlet of Papegem. All the sub-municipalities and also the hamlet are crossed by the Molenbeek.

Map of Lede showing sub-municipalities

Sandstone

The Lede Formation (Dutch: Formatie van Lede; abbreviation: Ld) is a geologic formation in the subsurface of Belgium. The formation is named after Lede. It consists of shallow-marine limestone and sandstone, deposited in the former sea that covered Belgium during the Eocene. The bluestone (for roads) and in particular the yellow-brown calcareous sandstone extracted from quarries in Lede and neighbouring areas, were widely used during the 15th to 18th century as construction material for religious and civil buildings.[3]

Sights

Lede is known for a statue of the Virgin Mary, called "Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-van-Zeven-Smarten" (Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows), to which a local legend attributes magical powers. The statue attracts many pilgrims. The statue is taken around in a procession during a Sunday in June, after the biannual nine-day festival. The local church, built in 1496, houses the statue.

The abandoned Castle of Mesen is situated in central Lede. Its demolition was started in April 2010.

Castle of Mesen, Lede

Notable People

On 25 May 1830, Julius de Geyter, poet and musician, was born in Lede.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Population per municipality as of 1 January 2016 (XLS; 397 KB)
  2. ↑ http://www.lede.be/Lede%20Vandaag/default.aspx (Dutch)
  3. ↑ De Inventaris van het Bouwkundig Erfgoed, Lede (ID: 20771) (Dutch)
  4. ↑ The Twentieth Century Home Encyclopedia and Gazetteer: Who Is Who? Embraces Over Six Thousand Short Biographies, Volume 2
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