Zele

Zele
Sint-Ludgerus church
Sint-Ludgerus church
Flag of Zele
Coat of arms of Zele
Location of Zele
Map
Zele is located in Belgium
Zele
Zele
Location in Belgium
Location of Zele in East Flanders
Coordinates: 51°04′N 04°02′E / 51.067°N 4.033°E / 51.067; 4.033
Country Belgium
CommunityFlemish Community
RegionFlemish Region
ProvinceEast Flanders
ArrondissementDendermonde
Government
 • MayorHans Knop (CD&V)
 • Governing party/iesCD&V, Leefbaarder Zele
Area
 • Total
33.28 km2 (12.85 sq mi)
Population
 (2018-01-01)[1]
 • Total
20,976
 • Density630/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
Postal codes
9240
NIS code
42028
Area codes052
Websitewww.zele.be

Zele (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈzeːlə]) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders, around 20 kilometers east of Ghent. The municipality only comprises the town of Zele proper. In 2023, Zele had a total population of 21,374. The total area is 33 km2 which gives a population density of 641.6 people per km2.[2]

Toponym

The name of the municipality is derived from the Old Dutch or Old Saxon word "seli", which means "(main) building" or "settlement". Examples in the region with that toponym are Brussels, Herzele and Belsele.[3]

Notable inhabitants

References

  1. ^ "Wettelijke Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2018". Statbel. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Statbel Zele". Statistics Belgium. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Old dutch dictionary". gtb.ivdnt.org. Retrieved 2 November 2023.