Buggenhout

Buggenhout
Municipality

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Coat of arms
Buggenhout

Location in Belgium

Coordinates: 51°00′N 04°12′E / 51.000°N 4.200°E / 51.000; 4.200Coordinates: 51°00′N 04°12′E / 51.000°N 4.200°E / 51.000; 4.200
Country Belgium
Community Flemish Community
Region Flemish Region
Province East Flanders
Arrondissement Dendermonde
Government
 • Mayor Tom Van Herreweghe (NCD)
 • Governing party/ies NCD, BAL, SP.A, VLD
Area
 • Total 25.25 km2 (9.75 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2016)[1]
 • Total 14,469
 • Density 570/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Postal codes 9255
Area codes 052
Website www.buggenhout.be

Buggenhout (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈbɵɣə(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. On December 31, 2013, Buggenhout had a total population of 14,444. The total area is 25.25 square kilometres, which gives a population density of 572 inhabitants per square kilometre. The current mayor of Buggenhout is Tom Van Herreweghe, from the (local) NCD party.

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

In Opdorp lays the geographic centre of Flanders.

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 (beechs)), holt from *hulta (Modern Dutch: hout (bos), Old English: holt (forest)). Buggenhout still contains a small forested area called Buggenhoutbos.

References

  1. ↑ Population per municipality as of 1 January 2016 (XLS; 397 KB)
 Hamme Sint-Amands (VAN)
Dendermonde
Lebbeke		 Londerzeel (VBR)
   Buggenhout  
Opwijk (VBR) Merchtem (VBR)
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