Hansbeke is a village and ''

deelgemeente A (, literally ''sub-municipality''), or section (), is a subdivision of a municipality in Belgium and, until March 2014, in the Netherlands as well. Belgium Each municipality in Belgium that existed as a separate entity on 1 January 1961 bu ...

'' (sub-municipality) in the municipality of

Deinze Deinze () is a city and a municipality in the Belgian province of East Flanders. It comprises the city of Deinze, and the towns of Astene, Bachte-Maria-Leerne, Gottem, Grammene, Hansbeke, Landegem, Meigem, Merendree, Nevele, Petegem-aan-de-Lei ...

in the Belgian 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 village is located about west of

Ghent Ghent ( ; ; historically known as ''Gaunt'' in English) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the Provinces of Belgium, province ...

History

The village was first mentioned in 1147 as Hansbeka, and means "brook near

Hamme Hamme () is a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality located in the Belgium, Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the settlements of Hamme proper, Kastel Moerzeke, and . In 2018, Hamme had a total population of 24,827. ...

". The parish was demarcated in 1242, and became part of the Diocese of Ghent in 1559. In 1838, a railway station opened on the

Bruges Bruges ( , ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders, in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is in the northwest of the country, and is the sixth most populous city in the country. The area of the whole city amoun ...

railway line. Later the E40 highway was constructed parallel to the railway line. The improved connection to the outside world resulted in the transformation of an agricultural community into a commuter's town. Hansbeke was an independent municipality until 1977, when it was merged to

Nevele Nevele () is a village and former Municipalities of Belgium, municipality located in the Belgium, Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Hansbeke, Landegem, Merendree, Nevele proper, Poesele and Vosselare. In 2 ...

. In 2019, it was merged in

. The villagers have established their own village council in December 2019, because they were worried that they were being ignored by the city in the larger municipality.

Buildings

The St Peter and Paul Church was first mentioned in 1147. The old church was damaged by a storm in 1780, and demolished in 1790. In 1793, a three aisled basilica-like church was constructed. The tower was destroyed in 1918, and rebuilt between 1922 and 1923 by Valentin Vaerwyck in neo-Flemish Renaissance style.

Notable people

Erwin Mortier Erwin Mortier (born 28 November 1965) is a Dutch-language Belgian author. Spending his youth in Hansbeke, he later moved to nearby Ghent, where he became city poet (2005–2006). He wrote as a columnist for newspapers like '' De Morgen'' and p ...

(born 1965), author *

Julius Nieuwland Julius Aloysius Arthur Nieuwland, CSC, (14 February 1878 – 11 June 1936) was a Belgian-born Holy Cross priest and professor of chemistry and botany at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana. He is known for his contributions to acetylene ...

(1899–1985), priest and professor of chemistry and botany

Gallery

File:Kerkhansbeke2 14-08-2009 15-45-13.jpg, St Peter and Paul Church File:Spoorlijn 50A tussen Hansbeke en Landegem in 2020.jpg, Railway line protection during work on the transmission towers File:Hansbeke 35227 30-08-2019 9-53-22.jpg, House in Hansbeke File:De doortocht in Hansbekedorp - richting Zomergem - 2020.jpg, Street view

References

{{Authority control Sub-municipalities of Deinze Former municipalities of East Flanders Populated places in East Flanders