Zottegem (, Sotteghem and Sottegem in older English and French language sources) is a

city A city is a human settlement of a substantial size. The term "city" has different meanings around the world and in some places the settlement can be very small. Even where the term is limited to larger settlements, there is no universally agree ...

and

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 Belgium and more particularly in

Flanders Flanders ( or ; ) is the Dutch language, Dutch-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, la ...

, in the province of

East Flanders East Flanders ( ; ; ; ) is a Provinces of Belgium, province of Belgium. It borders (clockwise from the North) the Netherlands, Dutch province of Zeeland and the Belgian provinces of Antwerp (province), Antwerp, Flemish Brabant, Hainaut (provinc ...

. The municipality comprises the town of Zottegem proper and the villages of Elene, Erwetegem,

Godveerdegem Godveerdegem is a village belonging to the municipality of Zottegem. It is located on the Molenbeek-Ter Erpenbeek in the Denderstreek and in the Flemish Ardennes, the hilly southern part of the province of East Flanders, Belgium. The Molenbeek-Ter ...

Grotenberge Grotenberge is a village belonging to the municipality of Zottegem. It is located on the Molenbeek and the Molenbeek-Ter Erpenbeek within the Denderstreek and the Flemish Ardennes, the hilly southern part of the East Flanders province, Belgium. G ...

Leeuwergem Leeuwergem is a village within the municipality of Zottegem. It is located on the Molenbeek, within the Denderstreek and Flemish Ardennes, a hilly region in the southern part of the East Flanders province, Belgium. Leeuwergem was formerly part of ...

Oombergen Zottegem (, Sotteghem and Sottegem in older English and French language sources) is a City status in Belgium, city and Municipalities of Belgium, municipality located in Belgium and more particularly in Flanders, in the province of East Flanders. ...

, Sint-Goriks-Oudenhove, Sint-Maria-Oudenhove, Strijpen and

Velzeke-Ruddershove Velzeke-Ruddershove is a double village in the Denderstreek in the province of East Flanders in Belgium, currently part of the municipality of Zottegem. The two villages of Velzeke and Ruddershove were merged in 1825. The settlement of Velzeke d ...

. On 1 January 2018, Zottegem had a total population of 26,373. The total area is 56.66 km² 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 470 inhabitants per km². Zottegem is part of the hilly geographical area of the

Flemish Ardennes The Flemish Ardennes (Dutch language, Dutch: ''Vlaamse Ardennen'') is an informal name given to a hilly region in the south of the province of East Flanders, Belgium. Highest summit is the Hotondberg (151 m). Main characteristics of the region ar ...

(''Vlaamse Ardennen''); the hills and cobblestone streets ( Paddestraat) are regular locations in the springtime cycle classics of Flanders. The city is known for its ties with

Lamoral, Count of Egmont Lamoral, Count of Egmont, Prince of Gavere (18 November 1522 – 5 June 1568) was a general and statesman in the Habsburg Netherlands, Spanish Netherlands just before the start of the Eighty Years' War, whose execution helped spark the national up ...

. Lamoral has an Egmont Castle (''Egmontkasteel''), an Egmont museum (''Egmontkamer'') and two statues of Egmont in the centre of Zottegem. He is buried in Egmont's crypt (''Egmontcrypte'') under the church.

Leeuwergem Castle Leeuwergem Castle () is a stately home in the village of Elene in the municipality of Zottegem, East Flanders, Belgium. History The present building was constructed between 1762 and 1764, on the site of an earlier castle of the first half of the ...

in Elene is an 18th-century stately home. There also the ruins of an 18th-century windmill can be found.

Breivelde Castle Breivelde Castle ( Dutch: ''Kasteel (van) Breivelde'') and the surrounding park Breivelde estate (''Domein Breivelde'') is a castle in Grotenberge, Zottegem in Belgium. Breivelde castle was built in Renaissance Revival architecture Renaiss ...

in Grotenberge is surrounded by an English landscape garden. The

archaeological museum of Velzeke The archaeological museum of Velzeke (Dutch language, Dutch: ''Archeocentrum Velzeke'') is a museum located on the Paddestraat in Velzeke-Ruddershove in Zottegem, Belgium. It focuses on Prehistory, prehistorical times and the Gallo-Roman culture, G ...

exhibits findings from

Gallo-Roman culture Gallo-Roman culture was a consequence of the Romanization of Gauls under the rule of the Roman Empire in Roman Gaul. It was characterized by the Gaulish adoption or adaptation of Roman culture, language, morals and way of life in a uniquely ...

Places of interest

File:Markt met Egmontstandbeeld en Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Hemelvaartkerk, Zottegem.jpg, File:Egmontstandbeeld,_Markt,_Zottegem,_Vlaanderen,_België_02.jpg, File:Kasteel_van_Egmont_Zottegem_09.jpg, File:Egmontkamer,_stadhuis_Zottegem_06.jpg, File:Domein_Breivelde_Zottegem_05.jpg, File:Kasteel_van_Leeuwergem,_Zottegem_03.jpg, File:Paddestraat,_Velzeke,_Zottegem_01.jpg, File:Provinciaal_Archeocentrum_AVE_Velzeke_Zottegem_29.jpg,

Archaeological museum of Velzeke The archaeological museum of Velzeke (Dutch language, Dutch: ''Archeocentrum Velzeke'') is a museum located on the Paddestraat in Velzeke-Ruddershove in Zottegem, Belgium. It focuses on Prehistory, prehistorical times and the Gallo-Roman culture, G ...

Famous inhabitants

Urbain Braems Urbain Braems (10 November 1933 – 9 September 2021) was a Belgian association football, football player and manager. He played for K.S.V. Sottegem, K.R.C. Mechelen, Club Brugge K.V., Club Brugge and R. Daring Club Molenbeek, Daring Club Bruxel ...

, football player and manager, lived in Zottegem * Bart De Clercq, cyclist * Patricia de Martelaere (b. in Zottegem), writer *, former rector of Ghent University * Jessy De Smet, singer *

, general and statesman, is buried in Zottegem * Tim Matthys, football player, lives in Zottegem * Laurent Merchiers, politician *

Lyne Renée Lyne Renée (born Line Van Wambeke; 17 May 1979) is a Belgian actress, artist, model, and singer. She was born in Velzeke, Zottegem, Belgium, and graduated from the Studio Herman Teirlinck in Antwerp. From 2003 to 2005 she appeared as a stage a ...

(b. in Zottegem), actress *

Paul Van Cauwenberge Paul Van Cauwenberge (born 1 April 1949 in Zottegem) is a Belgian academic and chairman of Hogeschool Gent. He was the rector of Ghent University from 1 October 2005 until 1 October 2013. His successor is Anne De Paepe. Career Van Cauwenberge is ...

, former rector of Ghent University * (b. in Zottegem), actress ( The curiosity of Chance)

References

External links

*
Official website
- Information available in Dutch and limited information available in English, French and German Municipalities of East Flanders Populated places in East Flanders {{EastFlanders-geo-stub

Places of interest

Famous inhabitants

See also

References

External links