Merchtem () is a
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality' ...
located in the
Belgian province of
Flemish Brabant
Flemish Brabant ( ; ) is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on (clockwise from the North) the Belgian provinces of Antwerp, Limburg, Liège, Walloon Brabant, Hainaut and East Flanders. Flemish Brabant also ...
. The municipality comprises the villages of
Brussegem
Merchtem () is a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality located in the Belgium, Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the villages of Brussegem and Hamme (Merchtem), Hamme, the hamlets of Ossel and Peizegem, and Merchtem ...
and
Hamme, the hamlets of
Ossel and
Peizegem, and Merchtem proper. On July 9, 2009, Merchtem had a total population of 15,298. The total area is 36.72 km
2 which gives a
population density
Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...
of 416 inhabitants per km
2.
Folklore
Merchtem is known for 'de
steltenlopers', people walking on
stilts (up to several meters above ground). Langevelde, a part of the municipality, was frequently flooded after heavy rain. In order to reach the centre, people were using sticks to walk.
After an internal struggle, the group split up in two parts, 'stichting Langevelde' and 'stichting Jan Vaderhasselt'.
Language controversy
On August 28, 2006 mayor
Eddie de Block introduced a ban on speaking
French in the town's schools. Mayor de Block said that the measure did not violate
human rights
Human rights are universally recognized Morality, moral principles or Social norm, norms that establish standards of human behavior and are often protected by both Municipal law, national and international laws. These rights are considered ...
and that it would help
integration. A previous ban on signs in languages different from
Dutch in the town's markets had been overturned by
Flemish Interior Minister
An interior minister (sometimes called a minister of internal affairs or minister of home affairs) is a Cabinet (government), cabinet official position that is responsible for internal affairs, such as public security, civil registration and iden ...
Marino Keulen.
Places of interest
File:Parochiekerk Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Kerkstraat Merchtem Belgium.jpg, Onze-Lieve-Vrouw church
File:Merchtemsteltenlopers.jpg, Steltenlopers
References
External links
*
Official website
{{Authority control
Municipalities of Flemish Brabant