Erpe

Erpe is a sub-municipality of Erpe-Mere in Flanders. It is located in the Denderstreek in the southeast of East Flanders and belongs to Arrondissement of Aalst. The sub-municipality is bordered by the sub-municipalities of Mere, Ottergem and Erondegem and the municipalities Lede (sub-municipalities Impe and Lede) and Aalst (sub-municipalities Aalst and Nieuwerkerken). Erpe has 4903 inhabitants as of 1 January 2003 and an area of 8.28 km. The population density is 592 inhabitants / km ².

History

Erpe was first mentioned in a document of 1057, although the village is probably much older. The name is derived from the word Erpo. Between the 18th and 19th Century the population of Erpe growed steadily. In 1769 there were 1032 inhabitants, in 1801 there were 1638 inhabitants, and by 1893 the village had 2394 inhabitants. By the end of the 19th Century, there were two water mills in the village, a windmill, two breweries and a vinegar maker. Erpe had a football club called Oranje Erpe at the Royal Belgian Football Association.

Landmarks

• The water tower of the Tussengemeentelijke Maatschappij der Vlaanderen voor Watervoorziening.
• There are two water mills in Erpe, both located on the Molenbeek Brook, these being the Cottemmolen and the Van Der Biestmolen.

The Cottemmolen is located at the Molenstraat 36. It is an overshot watermill which is protected. It was originally a wheat mill and an oil mill, but later on it was only a wheat mill.

The Van Der Biestmolen is located at Dorpsstraat 3. It is an overshot watermill which is not protected and now functions as a wheat mill.

• Sint-Martinus Church can be found in Erpe, which belongs to deanery of Lede.

Tourism

Through Erpe runs the Molenbeekroute. The Molenbeekroute is a cycle track network, known primarily for the mills of the municipality Erpe-Mere and two brooks that can be found there, which both have the name Molenbeek (mill brook).

Sub-municipalities: Aaigem ·  Bambrugge ·  Burst ·  Erondegem ·  Erpe ·  Mere ·  Ottergem ·  Vlekkem