Lokeren
Encyclopedia
Lokeren (ˈloː.kə.rə) is a municipality located in the Belgian
province
of East Flanders
. The municipality comprises the city of Lokeren proper and the towns of Daknam and Eksaarde. It is located on the Durme, a tributary
of the Scheldt
, and is the second most important city of the Waasland
after Sint-Niklaas
. Mayor
Filip Anthuenis
(VLD) was elected for a second mandate during the elections on October 8, 2006
.
times. A Roman
road ran along the Durme river. The name Waas
was given to this area by the Romans from the Germanic root Wasu meaning “marshy land”. The first mention of the name Lokeren, however, dates from 1114. Unlike the older settlements, the new village came to be built on the right bank of the Durme. By the middle of the 12th century, it had become an independent parish, with agriculture
and flax
as the two main drivers of the economy. The textile
industry would remain important until well into the 20th century.
gave Lokeren the right to hold a market. In the 16th and 17th century, the whole Waasland was in the line of fire between Protestant Netherlands
and Catholic
Spain
, often with terrible consequences for the local population. After the French Revolution
, the area was made part of the new Département de l’Escaut, with Lokeren at the head of a canton
. This did not last long as the department was split in 1800 and Lokeren made part of the arrondissement of Dendermonde
. Napoleon Bonaparte
promoted the town to the status of city in 1804.
Until the 1970s, haircutting (an industrial practice of cutting hair from rabbit skins to make felt, a basic material for hat makers) and slaughterhouse
s were among Lokeren’s main industries. Today, the city enjoys a more varied economical and cultural infra-structure.
with
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
province
Provinces of Belgium
Belgium is divided into three regions, two of them are subdivided into five provinces each.The division into provinces is fixed by Article 5 of the Belgian Constitution...
of East Flanders
East Flanders
East Flanders is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Netherlands and in Belgium on the provinces of Antwerp, Flemish Brabant , of Hainaut and of West Flanders...
. The municipality comprises the city of Lokeren proper and the towns of Daknam and Eksaarde. It is located on the Durme, a tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Scheldt
Scheldt
The Scheldt is a 350 km long river in northern France, western Belgium and the southwestern part of the Netherlands...
, and is the second most important city of the Waasland
Waasland
The Waasland is a region in Flanders, Belgium, although without any administrative functions. It is also called the Land van Waas ; Waas most likely refers to the soggy soil of the region even though the exact etymology is unknown - one possibility is a connection to the English word 'wasteland'...
after Sint-Niklaas
Sint-Niklaas
Sint-Niklaas is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Sint-Niklaas proper and the towns of Belsele, Nieuwkerken-Waas, and Sinaai....
. Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
Filip Anthuenis
Filip Anthuenis
Filip Anthuenis is a Belgian politician and a member of the Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats. He was elected as a member of the Belgian Senate in 2007....
(VLD) was elected for a second mandate during the elections on October 8, 2006
Belgian municipal elections, 2006
The Belgian provincial and municipal elections, 2006 took place on Sunday 8 October 2006. The electors have elected the municipal counsellors of 589 cities and towns as well as the ten provincial councils...
.
Origins
Archaeological finds on the Lokeren territory prove that this area was populated in NeolithicNeolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
times. A Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
road ran along the Durme river. The name Waas
Waasland
The Waasland is a region in Flanders, Belgium, although without any administrative functions. It is also called the Land van Waas ; Waas most likely refers to the soggy soil of the region even though the exact etymology is unknown - one possibility is a connection to the English word 'wasteland'...
was given to this area by the Romans from the Germanic root Wasu meaning “marshy land”. The first mention of the name Lokeren, however, dates from 1114. Unlike the older settlements, the new village came to be built on the right bank of the Durme. By the middle of the 12th century, it had become an independent parish, with agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and flax
Flax
Flax is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. It is native to the region extending from the eastern Mediterranean to India and was probably first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent...
as the two main drivers of the economy. The textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
industry would remain important until well into the 20th century.
16th century until now
In 1555, Charles VCharles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
gave Lokeren the right to hold a market. In the 16th and 17th century, the whole Waasland was in the line of fire between Protestant Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, often with terrible consequences for the local population. After the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, the area was made part of the new Département de l’Escaut, with Lokeren at the head of a canton
Cantons of France
The cantons of France are territorial subdivisions of the French Republic's 342 arrondissements and 101 departments.Apart from their role as organizational units in certain aspects of the administration of public services and justice, the chief purpose of the cantons today is to serve as...
. This did not last long as the department was split in 1800 and Lokeren made part of the arrondissement of Dendermonde
Dendermonde
Dendermonde is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek. The municipality comprises the city of Dendermonde proper and the towns of Appels, Baasrode, Grembergen, Mespelare, Oudegem, Schoonaarde, and Sint-Gillis-bij-Dendermonde...
. Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
promoted the town to the status of city in 1804.
Until the 1970s, haircutting (an industrial practice of cutting hair from rabbit skins to make felt, a basic material for hat makers) and slaughterhouse
Slaughterhouse
A slaughterhouse or abattoir is a facility where animals are killed for consumption as food products.Approximately 45-50% of the animal can be turned into edible products...
s were among Lokeren’s main industries. Today, the city enjoys a more varied economical and cultural infra-structure.
Sights
- Lokeren counts a number of art galleries and a museum, which covers local history from prehistoric archaeologyPrehistoric archaeologyHistory is the study of the past using written records. Archaeology can also be used to study the past alongside history. Prehistoric archaeology is the study of the past before historical records began....
to the mid-20th century. - Since June 10, 1956, the city has been endowed with a 49-bell carillonCarillonA carillon is a musical instrument that is typically housed in a free-standing bell tower, or the belfry of a church or other municipal building. The instrument consists of at least 23 cast bronze, cup-shaped bells, which are played serially to play a melody, or sounded together to play a chord...
. - The Molsbroek nature preservation area is on Lokeren’s territory.
- The façade of the Sint-Lodewijks collegeSint-Lodewijkscollege (Lokeren)The Sint-Lodewijkscollege is a Catholic high school in the centre of Lokeren, Belgium.-History:The historic baroque building was built in 1714 for the family Van Kersschaever. The facade is a classified heritage site and protected monument. The actual school was established in 1850 by the bishop...
, High-School.
Famous inhabitants
- Frans RensFrans RensFrans Rens was a Flemish writer.From 1823 up to 1843, he was an inspector of gold and silver work at Ghent, and head of lower education for the school area Lokeren.-Source:...
, writerWriterA writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
(1805–1874) - Aimé Anthuenis, former footballFootball (soccer)Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player and coachCoach (sport)In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
(b. 1943) - Gabriel of ComaneGabriel of ComaneGabriel of Komana has been archbishop of Western Europe of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the Eastern Orthodox church since 2003. He was born in 13 June 1946 by Grand in Belgium in a catholic flamand family. He studied philosophy and theology until 1974, afterwards obtain his diploma at the...
, archbishopArchbishopAn archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Western Europe of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the Eastern Orthodox churchEastern Orthodox ChurchThe Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
(b. 1946) - François Van Der ElstFrançois Van Der ElstFrançois J. C. van der Elst is a former Belgian footballer, who played as a striker.Nicknamed Swat, his younger brother, Leo, was also a professional footballer. Both were Belgian internationals.-Football career:...
, former international football player (b. 1954) - Jelle Van DammeJelle Van DammeJelle Francois Maria Van Damme is a Belgian international footballer who can play as a central defender, left back or left sided midfielder. He is signed to Belgian Pro League club Standard Liège.-Early moves:...
, football player (b. 1983)
Sports and events
- The best football club of the city is K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen.
- Lokeren is well known within Flanders for an annual ten-day music fest and fair (the LokerseFeesten), which takes place during the first week of August.
Twin towns
Lokeren is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with
-
RopczyceRopczyceRopczyce is a town in Subcarpathian Voivodeship in south-eastern Poland, situated in the Valley the Wielopolka River and is inhabited by 15,098 people . It is the seat of Ropczyce-Sędziszów County.-Geography:...
in PolandPolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
External links
- Official website - Information available in DutchDutch languageDutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
- Sporting Lokeren - Information about K.S.C Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen
- Lokerse Feesten - Information about the annual Lokeren music festival "Lokerse Feesten"
- Lokeren in beeld - Views of Lokeren