Lede, Belgium

Lede
Flag Coat of arms
Lede, Belgium Location in Belgium
Coordinates: 50°58′N 03°59′E / 50.967°N 3.983°E / 50.967; 3.983
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
Map of Lede, Belgium

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

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 of 2010.

References

1. ^ Population per municipality on 1 January 2010 (XLS; 221 KB)
2. ^ http://www.lede.be/Lede%20Vandaag/default.aspx

External links

• The website of Lede
• Short history of Lede