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 33km2 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]