Buggenhout

Buggenhout
Buggenhout
Municipality
	Flag Coat of arms
	Location of Buggenhout
	Buggenhout Location in Belgium Location of Buggenhout in East Flanders
	Coordinates: 51°00′N 04°12′E / 51.000°N 4.200°E
Country	Belgium
Community	Flemish Community
Region	Flemish Region
Province	East Flanders
Arrondissement	Dendermonde
Government
• Mayor	Pierre Claeys (CD&V)
• Governing party/ies	CD&V
Area
• Total	25.64 km2 (9.90 sq mi)
Population (2018-01-01)
• Total	14,475
• Density	560/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Postal codes	9255
NIS code	42004
Area codes	052
Website	www.buggenhout.be

Buggenhout (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈbʏɣə(n)ɦʌut] ^ⓘ) is a municipality in the Belgian province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek. The municipality comprises the towns of Buggenhout proper, Briel, Opdorp, and Opstal [nl]. In 2021, Buggenhout had a total population of 14,689. The total area is 25.25 square kilometres.^[2]

Buggenhout is also known for its forest, the "Buggenhoutbos", which is the largest forest of East Flanders.^[3]

The geographic centre of Flanders lies in Opdorp.^[4]

Buggenhout has two breweries, Bosteels Brewery (known for the "Tripel Karmeliet", "Deus" (a champagne beer), "Kwak") and De Landtsheer, now called Brouwerij Malheur (known for "Malheur").

Etymology

The original meaning of the name is "beechwood" or "beech forest" (in modern Dutch: Beukenhout). The name is derived from the Middle Dutch Bucghenhout from Old Dutch Bukenholt. Buken comes from Proto-Germanic *bokjon (Modern Dutch: beuken, Old English: becen (beeches)), holt from *hulta (Modern Dutch: hout (bos), Old English: holt (forest)). Buggenhout still contains a forested area called Buggenhoutbos.^[5]

History

The village was first mention in 1125. It used to belong to the Duchy of Brabant. Due to internal feuds, the area was confiscated. The forest was declared crown land, and the village of Buggenhout became two heerlijkheden (landed estates). After the French Revolution, Buggenhout was transferred to East Flanders.^[5]

Gallery

Forest chapel
Town hall
Geographical centre of Flanders
Cruysveltstede

References

^ "Wettelijke Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2018". Statbel. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
^ "Bevolking per statistische sector - Sector 42004". Statistics Belgium. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
^ "Buggenhout bosgemeente". Boeiend Belgie (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 May 2022.
^ "Middelpuntwandeling te Opdorp". Pasar (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 May 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Buggenhout". Agentschap Onroerend Erfgoed (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 May 2022.

External links

Media related to Buggenhout at Wikimedia Commons
Official website (in Dutch)

[wikidata-692aaaa06af07b61bd00fe674742d7f0e429826b-v18-1] "Wettelijke Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2018". Statbel. Retrieved 9 March 2019.

[stat-2] "Bevolking per statistische sector - Sector 42004". Statistics Belgium. Retrieved 9 May 2022.

[3] "Buggenhout bosgemeente". Boeiend Belgie (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 May 2022.

[4] "Middelpuntwandeling te Opdorp". Pasar (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 May 2022.

[invent-5] "Buggenhout". Agentschap Onroerend Erfgoed (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 May 2022.

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