Laarne

Laarne
Municipality

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Coat of arms
Laarne

Location in Belgium

Coordinates: 51°01′N 03°51′E / 51.017°N 3.850°E / 51.017; 3.850Coordinates: 51°01′N 03°51′E / 51.017°N 3.850°E / 51.017; 3.850
Country Belgium
Community Flemish Community
Region Flemish Region
Province East Flanders
Arrondissement Dendermonde
Government
 • Mayor Ignace De Baerdemaecker (VLD)
 • Governing party/ies VLD, SP.A, VU&ID
Area
 • Total 32.07 km2 (12.38 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2016)[1]
 • Total 12,515
 • Density 390/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Postal codes 9270
Area codes 09
Website www.laarne.be

Laarne (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈlaːrnə]) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East-Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Kalken and Laarne proper. On January 1, 2006, Laarne had a total population of 11,736. The total area is 32.07 km² which gives a population density of 366 inhabitants per km². The current mayor of Laarne is Ignace De Baerdemaecker, from the VLD (Liberal) party.

History

The village lies to the east of Ghent, near a former course of the River the Scheldt and is notable for its castle. The castle dates from the twelfth and later centuries, notably, the seventeenth, and has been sympathetically restored and re-furnished.

The name arises from the Germanic hlaeri which signifies terrain seen as wooded and marshy. It is possible to speculate that the village originated in serving the castle, which in turn, guarded the river approach to Ghent from the sea. In the twelfth century, the river was less remote from the city than it is today. In 1040, Laarne was mentioned as Laren.

The lordship passed by inheritance through the families of Schoutheete, Van Vilsteren and others, finally to the counts of Ribaucourt. The castle is now owned by the Vereniging van Historische Woonsteden van België (the Union of Historic Homesteads of Belgium).

References

  1. ↑ Population per municipality as of 1 January 2016 (XLS; 397 KB)
 Lochristi Lokeren
Destelbergen Berlare
   Laarne  
Wetteren Wichelen
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