Izegem (; ) 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 the
Belgian province of
West Flanders
West Flanders is the westernmost province of the Flemish Region, in Belgium. It is the only coastal Belgian province, facing the North Sea to the northwest. It has land borders with the Dutch province of Zeeland to the northeast, the Flemis ...
. The municipality comprises the city of Izegem proper and the towns of
Emelgem
Emelgem is a village in the Belgian province of West Flanders and a part (deelgemeente) of the municipality Izegem. Emelgem was an independent municipality until 1964. On that moment Emelgem had an area from 5,44 km2 and was counting 5049 in ...
and
Kachtem
Izegem (; ) is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Izegem proper and the towns of Emelgem and Kachtem. Emelgem was added to Izegem in 1965, Kachtem in 1977. Izegem itse ...
. Emelgem was added to Izegem in 1965, Kachtem in 1977. Izegem itself lies on the southern banks of the Mandel, Emelgem and Kachtem on the north. Along the shores of the canal a large industrial zone has developed, which made the three municipalities one urban area. On January 1, 2006, Izegem had a total population of 26,544. The total area is 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 1,042 inhabitants per km².
Izegem is also known as the ''pekkerstad'', ''borstelstad'' or ''schoenenstad''. The river
Mandel
Mandel is a surname (and occasional given name) that occurs in multiple cultures and languages. It is a Dutch, German and Jewish surname, meaning "almond", from the Middle High German and Middle Dutch ''mandel''.''Dictionary of American Family Name ...
and the
canal Roeselare–Leie run throughout the city. Izegem used to be famous for its shoe- and brush-making. Today there are only a few factories left, but the city houses a shoe- and brush museum. Until the 1920s, Izegem was often spelled Iseghem, which can be found on old passport applications, birth records, and gazetteers. The Van Iseghem surname originally referred to this city.
Izegem shares borders with the following villages and towns:
*a.
Ingelmunster
Ingelmunster (; ) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises only the town of Ingelmunster proper and the village of Kriek. As of January 1, 2006, Ingelmunster had a total population of 10,617. ...
(town Ingelmunster)
*b.
Lendelede
Lendelede (; ) is a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality located in the Belgium, Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises only the town of Lendelede proper. On January 1, 2006, Lendelede had a total population of 5,399. The ...
(town Lendelede)
*c.
Sint-Eloois-Winkel
Sint-Eloois-Winkel is a village in the Belgian province of West Flanders. It is a ''deelgemeente'' of the municipality of Ledegem, separated from the center of the town by highway A17. The population of Sint-Eloois-Winkel is 3800, only a few hun ...
(town Ledegem)
*d.
Rumbeke
Rumbeke is a town in the Belgium, Belgian municipality of Roeselare in the province of West Flanders. It is most known as the location of Rumbeke Castle. Rumbeke was an independent municipality before the fusion of the Belgian municipalities in 1 ...
(city Roeselare)
*e.
Roeselare
Roeselare (; ; ) is a Belgian city and municipality in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Roeselare proper and the towns of Beveren, Oekene and Rumbeke.
The name of the city is derived from two ...
(city Roeselare)
*f.
Ardooie
Ardooie (; ) is a municipality in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Ardooie proper and Koolskamp. In 2006 Ardooie had a total population of 9,147. The local inhabitants are called Ardooienaren. During ...
(town Ardooie)
*g.
Meulebeke
Meulebeke (; ) is a former Municipalities of Belgium, municipality located in the Belgium, Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises only the town of Meulebeke proper. On January 1, 2006, Meulebeke had a total population of 10,9 ...
(town Meulebeke)
Notable people
* Ancestral town of famed British actor
Dirk Bogarde
Sir Dirk Bogarde (born Derek Jules Gaspard Ulric Niven van den Bogaerde; 28 March 1921 – 8 May 1999) was an English actor, novelist and screenwriter. Initially a matinée idol in films such as ''Doctor in the House (film), Doctor in the Hous ...
through paternal grandfather Aimé Van Den Bogaerde.
[De Forche, Christian ''De Izegemse roots van Dirk Bogarde (1921–1999)''. Ten Mandere, 2001/1, p. 20-26.]
*
Johan Bruyneel
Johan Bruyneel (born 23 August 1964) is a Belgian former professional road bicycle racer and a former directeur sportif for UCI ProTour team , and (later known as Discovery Channel), a US-based UCI ProTour cycling team. On 25 October 2018, the ...
, former professional cyclist and director of
Team RadioShack
Team RadioShack was a professional road bicycle racing team, with RadioShack as the title sponsor, the creation of which was announced on July 23, 2009. Lance Armstrong co-owned and led the team, which raced in the Grand Tours and the UCI ProTour ...
who led
Lance Armstrong
Lance Edward Armstrong (''né'' Gunderson; born September 18, 1971) is an American former professional road bicycle racing, road racing cyclist. He achieved international fame for winning the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times fro ...
during the
Tour de France
The Tour de France () is an annual men's multiple-stage cycle sport, bicycle race held primarily in France. It is the oldest and most prestigious of the three Grand Tour (cycling), Grand Tours, which include the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a ...
was born here.
* The band members of
't Hof van Commerce
t Hof van Commerce is a Belgian hip hop crew from Izegem in the province West Flanders in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium. Their name means 'commercial court' in their local dialect. Almost all their raps/lyrics are in West Flemish ...
, including singer–songwriter
Flip Kowlier
Flip Kowlier (pseudonym of Filip Willy Mariette Cauwelier, born 15 March 1976 in Izegem, West Flanders) is a Belgian singer, songwriter and rapper. He sings in a distinct West Flemish dialect. He is an MC with the hip hop group, 't Hof van Comme ...
, are from Izegem.
*
Bart Staes, member of the European Parliament, was born in Izegem.
*
Yves Lampaert
Yves Lampaert (born 10 April 1991) is a Belgian professional road racing cyclist, who rides for UCI WorldTeam .
Career
Lampaert practiced judo from the age of six, earned a Black belt (martial arts), black belt, but at the age of 17 started tra ...
, professional cyclist, was born here in 1991.
*
Ulla Werbrouck
Ulla Werbrouck (born 24 January 1972 in Izegem) is a Belgians, Belgian former politician and judoka.
At the Judo at the 1996 Summer Olympics, 1996 Summer Olympics, Werbrouck won the gold medal in the Judo at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Women' ...
, judoka, Olympic gold winner at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
*
Martijn Wydaeghe
Martijn Wydaeghe (; born 1 September 1992) is a Belgian rallying co-driver. He is partnered with Thierry Neuville for Hyundai Motorsport in the World Rally Championship category.
Rally career
Wydaeghe made his WRC debut at the 2013 Rallye de F ...
, rally co-driver competing alongside
Thierry Neuville
Thierry Jean Neuville ( ; born 16 June 1988) is a Belgian rally driver who is competing in the World Rally Championship for Hyundai Motorsport. During his career, he has finished as runner-up five times (2013, 2016–2019) and achieved his maiden ...
at the
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship (abbreviated as WRC) is an international rallying series owned and governed by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, FIA. Inaugurated in 1973, it is the oldest FIA world championship after Formula One. E ...
.
References
External links
*
Official website- Mostly in
Dutch
Dutch or Nederlands commonly refers to:
* Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands
** Dutch people as an ethnic group ()
** Dutch nationality law, history and regulations of Dutch citizenship ()
** Dutch language ()
* In specific terms, i ...
{{Authority control
Municipalities of West Flanders