Edegem Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Edegem

Flag	Coat of arms

Edegem

Location in Belgium

Country

Flemish Community

Arrondissement

Antwerp

Area

• Total

8.65 km² (3.34 sq mi)

Population

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• Total

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Postal codes

2650

Area codes

Website

www.edegem.be

Edegem (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈeːdəɣɛm]) is a town in Belgium. It is located in the Antwerp province. The town was first mentioned in the year 1173.

In 2021, Edegem had about 22,244 people living there. The total area of the town is 8.65 square kilometers. Edegem is a quiet place. Many people who live here travel to nearby cities like Antwerp for work. This means it is a "commuter town." Even though it's close to a big city, Edegem still has green spaces and is not completely covered in buildings.

Cool Places to See in Edegem
- Historic Churches and Buildings
- Fun Places for Recreation
  - Fort 5
  - Het Meihof Playground
Famous People from Edegem
Images for kids
See also

Cool Places to See in Edegem

Historic Churches and Buildings

Sint-Antoniuskerk

The Sint-Antoniuskerk is a very old church. It was built between the 16th and 17th centuries. This church has a special style called Gothic.

The Basilica of Our Lady of Lourdes

In 1884, a special cave was built in Edegem. It was made to look like a famous cave in Lourdes, France. This cave became a popular place for people to visit and pray.

As Edegem grew, the old Sint-Antoniuskerk became too small. So, people decided to build a new, bigger church. They chose a spot near the popular cave. The new church was designed by an architect named Louis De Vooght. It has a unique style called neo-Byzantine. Building started in 1931 and finished in 1933.

In 2008, Pope Benedict XVI gave this church a special title. It became an official "basilica minor." This means it's a very important church.

Kasteel Hof Ter Linden

Kasteel Hof Ter Linden is a beautiful old house in Edegem. It is a "Neoclassical villa." This means it was built in a style that looks like ancient Greek and Roman buildings.

The history of this castle goes back to the early 1400s. In the 1700s, it became a "Court of Pleasures." This was a fancy country house where people went for fun. The current beautiful front of the castle was built around 1770. A long path of Linden trees, planted in 1756, connects the castle to the Sint-Antoniuskerk.

Fun Places for Recreation

Fort 5

Fort 5 is an old fort in Edegem. It was built between 1859 and 1864. This fort was part of a group of forts built around the city of Antwerp. They were meant to protect the city from enemy armies.

However, new weapons made these forts less useful very quickly. Today, Fort 5 is a public park. People can visit it for fun and relaxation. It also hosts different local groups and activities.

Het Meihof Playground

Het Meihof is a fantastic playground in Edegem. The local government made this fun place for everyone.

At Het Meihof, you can find a forest to explore. There's also a big skatepark for skateboarding. You can play basketball on the court or try bowls in one of the three areas. There's even a restaurant with a terrace where you can get simple meals and drinks. The old building was fixed up, and all the playground equipment is new. Now, there's even a water playground and an adventure playground for extra fun!

Famous People from Edegem

Many interesting people have connections to Edegem:

Marie Gevers: A famous writer, born in Edegem in 1883.
Leo Tindemans: He was a former Prime Minister of Belgium. He was also a diplomat and a professor.
Willy Vandersteen: A world-famous creator of comic books. He made popular series like Spike and Suzy.
François-Xavier de Donnea: He was a Belgian defense minister and mayor of Brussels.
Christine Van Broeckhoven: A scientist who studies genes and how they work.
Ilse Heylen: A judo athlete who won a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
Hendrik Vervliet: A historian who studies history.
Boris Daenen (Netsky): A world-famous DJ who plays drum and bass music.
Jean Bourgain: A mathematician who won the Fields medal, a very important award in math.