Brakel, Belgium facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brakel
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Lilare Castle in St-Maria-Oudenhove
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 Brakel
Location in Belgium
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| Country | Belgium | ||
| Community | Flemish Community | ||
| Region | Flemish Region | ||
| Province | East Flanders | ||
| Arrondissement | Oudenaarde | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 56.46 km2 (21.80 sq mi) | ||
| Population
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| • Total | Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1,575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | ||
| Postal codes |
9660, 9661
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| Area codes | 055 | ||
| Website | www.brakel.be | ||
Brakel is a town in the Belgian province of East Flanders. It is located in a beautiful area with green hills and valleys. The name Brakel comes from an old farm called Braglo, first mentioned way back in 866!
Brakel is made up of several smaller villages. Since 1970, it has included Nederbrakel, Opbrakel, Michelbeke, Elst, and Zegelsem. Later, in 1977, Everbeek, Parike, and part of Sint-Maria-Oudenhove also joined Brakel. As of January 1, 2018, about 14,781 people live in Brakel. The town covers an area of 56.46 square kilometers. This means there are about 262 people living in each square kilometer. The current mayor of Brakel is Stefaan De Vleeschouwer.
This region is very popular for outdoor activities. Many people enjoy cycling and walking here because of the lovely green hills and valleys. Brakel is also famous for being part of the Tour of Flanders, a very important professional cycling race.
Did you know there's a type of chicken named after the town? It's called the Braekel chicken!
Brakel is home to a special viewing tower called the Uitkijktoren. It was opened in April 2001 and stands 32 meters (about 105 feet) tall! You can find it on the Twaalfbunderstraat, just northwest of Nederbrakel. From the top, you can see for miles around. There are special maps to help you identify all the interesting places in every direction.
Contents
Famous People from Brakel
Brakel has been home to some well-known people, especially in politics and cycling.
Important Politicians from Brakel
- Alexander De Croo: He is a very important person in Belgium. He has been the Prime Minister of Belgium since 2020. This means he is the head of the Belgian government.
- Herman De Croo: Alexander's father, Herman De Croo, is also a famous politician. He used to be the president of the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium. This is like being the speaker of one of the main parts of the Belgian parliament.
Top Cyclists from Brakel
Brakel is a great place for cycling, so it's no surprise some famous cyclists come from here!
- Robbie McEwen: He is a professional cyclist who won 12 stages in the Tour de France. The Tour de France is one of the biggest and most famous cycling races in the world.
- Peter van Petegem: Another great cyclist, Peter van Petegem, won two very important races: Paris–Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders. The Tour of Flanders race actually passes through the Brakel area!
See also
In Spanish: Brakel (Flandes Oriental) para niños
