Lokeren
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  Lokeren
Location in Belgium
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| Sovereign state |  Belgium |
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| Region |  Flemish Region |
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| Community | Flemish Community |
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| Province |  East Flanders |
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| Arrondissement | Sint-Niklaas | ||
| Coordinates | 51°06′0″N 03°59′0″E / 51.1°N 3.983333°ECoordinates: 51°06′0″N 03°59′0″E / 51.1°N 3.983333°E | ||
| Area | 67.50 km² | ||
| Population – Males – Females – Density |
37,850 (2006-01-01) 49.33% 50.67% 561 inhab./km² |
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| Age distribution 0–19 years 20–64 years 65+ years |
(01/01/2006) 23.93% 60.69% 15.38% |
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| Foreigners | 5.44% (01/07/2005) | ||
| Unemployment rate | 8.61% (1 January 2006) | ||
| Mean annual income | €12,558/pers. (2003) | ||
| Mayor | Filip Anthuenis (VLD) | ||
| Governing parties | VLD, SAMEN | ||
| Postal codes | 9160 | ||
| Area codes | 09 | ||
| Website | www.lokeren.be | ||
Lokeren is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Lokeren proper and the towns of Daknam and Eksaarde. It is located on the Durme, a tributary of the Scheldt, and is the second most important city of the Waasland after Sint-Niklaas. Mayor Filip Anthuenis (VLD) was elected for a second mandate during the elections on October 8, 2006.
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[edit] History
[edit] Origins
Archaeological finds on the Lokeren territory prove that this area was populated in Neolithic times. A Roman road ran along the Durme river. The name Waas was given to this area by the Romans from the Germanic root Wasu meaning “marshy land”. The first mention of the name Lokeren, however, dates from 1114. Unlike the older settlements, the new village came to be built on the right bank of the Durme. By the middle of the 12th century, it had become an independent parish, with agriculture and flax as the two main drivers of the economy. The textile industry would remain important until well into the 20th century.
[edit] 16th century until now
In 1555, Charles V gave Lokeren the right to hold a market. In the 16th and 17th century, the whole Waasland was in the line of fire between Protestant Netherlands and Catholic Spain, often with terrible consequences for the local population. After the French Revolution, the area was made part of the new Département de l’Escaut, with Lokeren at the head of a canton. This did not last long as the department was split in 1800 and Lokeren made part of the arrondissement of Dendermonde. Napoleon Bonaparte promoted the town to the status of city in 1804.
Until the 1970s, haircutting (an industrial practice of cutting hair from rabbit skins to make felt, a basic material for hat makers) and slaughterhouses were among Lokeren’s main industries. Today, the city enjoys a more varied economical and cultural infra-structure.
[edit] Sights
- Lokeren counts a number of art galleries and a museum, which covers local history from prehistoric archaeology to the mid-20th century.
- Since June 10, 1956, the city has been endowed with a 49-bell carillon.
- The Molsbroek nature preservation area is on Lokeren’s territory.
- The facade of the Sint-Lodewijks college, High-School.
[edit] Famous inhabitants
- Frans Rens, writer (1805-1874)
- Aimé Anthuenis, former football player and coach (b. 1943)
- Gabriel of Comane, archbishop of Western Europe of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the Eastern Orthodox church (b. 1946)
- François Van Der Elst, former international football player (b. 1954)
- Jelle Van Damme, football player (b. 1983)
[edit] Sports and events
- The best football club of the city is K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen.
- Lokeren is well known within Flanders for an annual ten-day music fest and fair (the LokerseFeesten), which takes place during the first week of August.
[edit] Twin towns
Lokeren is twinned with
[edit] External links
- Official website - Information available in Dutch
- Sporting Lokeren - Information about K.S.C Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen
- Lokerse Feesten - Information about the annual Lokeren music festival "Lokerse Feesten"
- Lokeren in beeld - Views of Lokeren
[edit] References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lokeren |
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