Aalter

Aalter (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈaːltər] ^ⓘ) is a municipality located between Bruges and Ghent in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Aalter, Bellem, Lotenhulle [nl], Poeke, Knesselare and Ursel [nl]. It is bordered on the north by Maldegem, on the east by Zomergem and Nevele, on the south by Deinze, and on the west by the province of West Flanders. The mayor is Pieter De Crem.^[2]

Aalter
Municipality
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Aalter
Aalter Location in Belgium Location of Aalter in East Flanders
Coordinates: 51°05′N 03°27′E
Country	Belgium
Community	Flemish Community
Region	Flemish Region
Province	East Flanders
Arrondissement	Ghent
Government
• Mayor	Pieter De Crem (CD&V)
• Governing party/ies	CD&V/N-VA
Area
• Total	119.85 km2 (46.27 sq mi)
Population  (2022-01-01)[1]
• Total	29,340
• Density	240/km2 (630/sq mi)
Postal codes	9880, 9881, 9910
NIS code	44084
Area codes	09
Website	www.aalter.be

Effective 1 January 2019, the municipality of Knesselare was merged into Aalter.^[3] Aalter was home to 29,242 people in 2021.^[4]

History

Aalter is located on the border of the Meetjesland with the forest of Flanders. The area was inhabited since prehistory. Artefacts have been recovered from 3,000 to 2,000 BC. The village was first mentioned in 974 as "Villa Haleftra". The etymology is unclear. The current name started to emerge around 1700. Aalter was home to several small heerlijkheden (landed estates), some of which had motte-and-bailey castles.^[5][6]

Between 1613 and 1623, the Ghent-Bruges Canal [nl] was dug, and several fortifications were built by Spanish against the Dutch. In 1838, a railway station opened and Aalter started to develop into a town which nowadays has many commuters.^[5][6]

Gallery

• 
  Poeke Castle
• 
  Pigeon-tower in Bellem
• 
  Mariahove castle in Bellem
• 
  Bandstand in the square

See also

• Pieter De Crem
• Flor Grammens