Zottegem (, Sotteghem and Sottegem in older English and French language sources) 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 Belgium and more particularly in
Flanders
Flanders (, ; Dutch: ''Vlaanderen'' ) is the Flemish-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 cultu ...
, in the 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 town of Zottegem proper and the villages of
Elene,
Erwetegem,
Godveerdegem,
Grotenberge,
Leeuwergem,
Oombergen,
Sint-Goriks-Oudenhove,
Sint-Maria-Oudenhove,
Strijpen and
Velzeke-Ruddershove. On 1 January 2018, Zottegem had a total population of 26,373. The total area is 56.66 km
2 which gives a
population density
Population density (in agriculture: 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 geographical ...
of 470 inhabitants per km
2.
Zottegem is part of the hilly geographical area of the
Flemish Ardennes (''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 has a castle (''Egmontkasteel''), a museum (''Egmontkamer'') and two statues in the centre of Zottegem. He is buried in a crypt (''Egmontcrypte'') under the church.
Leeuwergem castle
Leeuwergem Castle ( nl, Kasteel van Leeuwergem) 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 cast ...
in Elene is an 18th-century stately home; Breivelde castle in Grotenberge is surrounded by an English landscape garden. The archaeological museum in Velzeke exhibits findings from
Gallo-Roman culture
Gallo-Roman culture was a consequence of the Romanization of Gauls under the rule of the Roman Empire. It was characterized by the Gaulish adoption or adaptation of Roman culture, language, morals and way of life in a uniquely Gaulish context ...
.
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:Kloosterbos_Zottegem_06.jpg,
File:Steenbergse_bossen_06.jpg,
Famous inhabitants
*
Urbain Braems, football player and manager, lives in Zottegem
*
Bart De Clercq, cyclist
*
Patricia de Martelaere (b. in Zottegem), writer
*, former rector of Ghent University
*
Jessy De Smet, singer
*
Lamoral, Count of Egmont, general and statesman, is buried in Zottegem
*
Tim Matthys
Tim Matthys (born 23 December 1983) is a Belgium, Belgian Association football, football official and a former player. As of 2019, he works as a scout with K.A.A. Gent, Gent.
Career
While playing for his club (Zulte Waregem), the Forward (assoc ...
, football player, lives in Zottegem
*
Laurent Merchiers
Laurent Merchiers (9 June 1904 – 5 February 1986) was a Belgian liberal politician, lawyer, and a professor at the University of Ghent.
He was mayor of Ghent in a liberal-socialist coalition from 1953 to 1958. Laurent Merchiers was a member ...
, politician
*
Lyne Renée (b. in Zottegem), actress
*
Paul Van Cauwenberge, 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