Lede, Belgium

Lede
Municipality

Flag
Coat of arms
Lede

Location in Belgium

Coordinates: 50°58′N 03°59′E / 50.967°N 3.983°ECoordinates: 50°58′N 03°59′E / 50.967°N 3.983°E
Country Belgium
Community Flemish Community
Region Flemish Region
Province East Flanders
Arrondissement Aalst
Government
 • Mayor Roland Uyttendaele (CD&V)
 • Governing party/ies CD&V, VLD
Area
 • Total 29.69 km2 (11.46 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2013)[1]
 • Total 18,030
 • Density 610/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
Postal codes 9340
Area codes 053, 09
Website www.lede.be

Lede (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈleːdə]) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek, nearby cities are Gent, Aalst and Dendermonde.

In 2011, Lede had 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 Roland Uyttendaele (CD&V).

Geography

The municipality comprises the sub-municipalities of Impe, Lede proper, Oordegem, Smetlede, Wanzele, and the hamlet of Papegem. All the sub-municipalities and also the hamlet are crossed by the Molenbeek.

Map of Lede showing sub-municipalities

Sandstone

The Lede Formation (Dutch: Formatie van Lede; abbreviation: Ld) is a geologic formation in the subsurface of Belgium. The formation is named after Lede. It consists of shallow-marine limestone and sandstone, deposited in the former sea that covered Belgium during the Eocene. The bluestone (for roads) and in particular the yellow-brown calcareous sandstone extracted from quarries in Lede and neighbouring areas, were widely used during the 15th to 18th century as construction material for religious and civil buildings.[3]

Sights

Lede is known for a statue of the Virgin Mary, called "Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-van-Zeven-Smarten" (Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows), to which a local legend attributes magical powers. The statue attracts many pilgrims. 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 demolition was started in April 2010.

Castle of Mesen, Lede

References

  1. ↑ Population per municipality on 1 January 2013 (XLS; 607.5 KB)
  2. ↑ http://www.lede.be/Lede%20Vandaag/default.aspx (Dutch)
  3. ↑ De Inventaris van het Bouwkundig Erfgoed, Lede (ID: 20771) (Dutch)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lede.
 Wetteren Wichelen Dendermonde
Aalst
   Lede  
Sint-Lievens-Houtem Erpe-Mere