Aalter Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Aalter

Flag	Coat of arms

Aalter

Location in Belgium

Country

Flemish Community

Arrondissement

Ghent

Area

• Total

119.19 km² (46.02 sq mi)

Population

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• Total

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Postal codes

9880, 9881, 9910

Area codes

Website

www.aalter.be

Aalter is a town in Belgium. It is located in the East Flanders province. You can find Aalter between the famous cities of Bruges and Ghent.

Aalter is not just one town. It is a municipality that includes several smaller towns. These are Aalter, Bellem, Lotenhulle, Poeke, Knesselare, and Ursel. The mayor of Aalter is Pieter De Crem.

In 2019, the nearby municipality of Knesselare joined with Aalter. By 2021, about 29,242 people lived in Aalter.

History of Aalter
Gallery
See also

History of Aalter

Aalter is in a special area. It sits on the edge of a region called the Meetjesland. It is also near the historic forest of Flanders. People have lived in this area for a very long time.

Early Beginnings

Scientists have found old tools and items from 3,000 to 2,000 years BC. This shows that people lived here even in prehistoric times. The name "Aalter" comes from an older name, "Villa Haleftra". This name was first written down in 974. The exact meaning of the name is not fully clear. The current name, Aalter, became common around the year 1700.

Castles and Canals

In the past, Aalter had many small noble lands. These were called heerlijkheden. Some of these lands had special early castles. These castles were known as motte-and-bailey castles. They were built on raised earth mounds.

Between 1613 and 1623, an important waterway was built. This was the Ghent-Bruges Canal [nl]. It connected the cities of Ghent and Bruges. During this time, the Spanish also built forts near the canal. These forts helped protect the area from the Dutch.

Modern Development

A big change happened in 1838. A railway station opened in Aalter. This made it much easier to travel to and from the town. Because of the railway, Aalter grew into a busy place. Today, many people who live in Aalter travel to other cities for work. These people are called commuters.