Laarne () 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 Belgian may refer to: * Something of, or related to, Belgium * Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent * Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German *Ancient Belgian language, an extinct language ...

province of

East Flanders , native_name_lang = , settlement_type = Province of Belgium , image_flag = Flag of Oost-Vlaanderen.svg , flag_size = , image_shield = Wapen van O ...

. The municipality comprises the towns of and Laarne proper. On 1 January 2018, Laarne had a total population of 12,487. The total area is 32.07 km². The current mayor of Laarne is Ignace De Baerdemaecker, from the VLD (Liberal) party.

History

The village lies to the east of

Ghent Ghent ( nl, Gent ; french: Gand ; traditional English: Gaunt) is a city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the East Flanders province, and the third largest i ...

, near a former course of the River the

Scheldt The Scheldt (french: Escaut ; nl, Schelde ) is a river that flows through northern France, western Belgium, and the southwestern part of the Netherlands, with its mouth at the North Sea. Its name is derived from an adjective corresponding to ...

and is notable for its castle. The castle dates from the twelfth and later centuries, notably, the seventeenth, and has been sympathetically restored and re-furnished. The name arises from the Germanic ''hlaeri'' which signifies terrain seen as wooded and marshy. It is possible to speculate that the village originated in serving the castle, which in turn, guarded the river approach to Ghent from the sea. In the twelfth century, the river was less remote from the city than it is today. In 1040, Laarne was mentioned as ''Laren''. The lordship passed by inheritance through the families of Schoutheete, Van Vilsteren and others, finally to the counts of Ribaucourt. The castle is now owned by the ''Vereniging van Historische Woonsteden van België'' (the Union of Historic Homesteads of Belgium).

Gallery

File:Laarne, de Sint Machariuskerk oeg56154 foto2 2013-05-06 17.55.jpg, Laarne, Church: Sint-Machariuskerk File:Kalken, de parochiekerk Sint Denijs oeg58141 foto2 2013-05-06 17.23.jpg, Kalken, church: Sint-Denijskerk File:Poortgebouw Goed ten Cattenaye - Laarne - België.jpg, Gate house of ten Cattenaye estate File:Pastorie Laarne - België.jpg, Clergy house in Laarne

References

External links

*
Official website
- Only available in

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

{{Authority control Municipalities of East Flanders Populated places in East Flanders