Lovendegem Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Lovendegem

Village and former municipality

Lovendegem, seen across the Ghent-Bruges Canal

Flag

Seal

Lovendegem

Location in Belgium

Country

Belgium

Region

Flemish Region

Province

East Flanders

Arrondissement

Ghent

Municipality

Lievegem

Area

• Total

19.55 km² (7.55 sq mi)

Population

(2021)

• Total

9,703

• Density

496.32/km² (1,285.5/sq mi)

Time zone

CET

Postal code

9920, 9921

Dialing code

Website

www.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. In 2018, Lovendegem had a total population of 9,574. The total area is 19.48 km².

History
Gallery
Famous inhabitants
See also

History

The name of the town was first recorded as Lovendenghiem in 1150, 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.

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.