Lede, Belgium

This article is about the Belgian municipality. For other uses see Lede (disambiguation)
Lede

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Lede, Belgium
Location in Belgium
Coordinates:
Country Belgium
Region Flemish Region
Community Flemish Community
Province East Flanders
Arrondissement Aalst
Government
 • Mayor Geert Grepdon (VLD)
 • Governing party/ies VLD, CD&V
Area
 • Total 29.69 km2 (11.5 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2010)[1]
 • Total 17,629
 • Density 593.8/km2 (1,537.9/sq mi)
Postal codes 9340
Area codes 053, 09
Website www.lede.be

Lede is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek, nearby cities are Gent, Aalst and Dendermonde. The municipality comprises the towns of Impe, Lede proper, Oordegem, Smetlede, Wanzele, and Papegem. In 2011, Lede has a total population of 17,882.[2] The total area is 29.69 km² which gives a population density of 575 inhabitants per km². The current mayor of Lede is Geert Grepdon, from the VLD (Liberal) party.

Lede is known for a specific statue of St-Mary, "Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-van-Zeven-Smarten" (Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows), to which a local myth attributes magical powers, making Lede into a local pilgrimage destination. The statue is taken around in a procession during a Sunday in June, after the biannual nine-day festival. The local church, built in 1496, houses the statue. The abandoned Castle of Mesen is situated in central Lede. Its destruction has been started in April 2010.

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