, native_name_lang =
, settlement_type =
Province of Belgium
, image_flag = Flag of Oost-Vlaanderen.svg
, flag_size =
, image_shield = Wapen van Oost-Vlaanderen.svg
, shield_size = 90px
, image_map = Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen in Belgium.svg
, coordinates =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name =
, subdivision_type1 = Region
, subdivision_name1 =
, seat_type = Capital
, seat =
Ghent
Ghent ( nl, Gent ; french: Gand ; traditional English: Gaunt) is a city and a municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the East Flanders province, and the third largest in the country, exceeded in ...
, leader_title = Governor
, leader_name =
Carina Van Cauter
, area_total_km2 = 3007
, area_footnotes =
, population_footnotes =
, population_total = 1515064
, population_as_of = 1 January 2019
, population_density_km2 = auto
, blank_name_sec2 =
HDI
The Human Development Index (HDI) is a statistic composite index of life expectancy, education (mean years of schooling completed and expected years of schooling upon entering the education system), and per capita income indicators, wh ...
(2019)
, blank_info_sec2 = 0.932
·
6th of 11
, website =
, official_name =
East Flanders (
Dutch
Dutch commonly refers to:
* Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands
* Dutch people ()
* Dutch language ()
Dutch may also refer to:
Places
* Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States
* Pennsylvania Dutch Country
People E ...
: ''Oost-Vlaanderen'' , french: (Province de) Flandre-Orientale , german: Ostflandern ) is a
province
A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''Roman province, provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire ...
of
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
. It borders (clockwise from the North) the
Dutch
Dutch commonly refers to:
* Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands
* Dutch people ()
* Dutch language ()
Dutch may also refer to:
Places
* Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States
* Pennsylvania Dutch Country
People E ...
province of
Zeeland
, nl, Ik worstel en kom boven("I struggle and emerge")
, anthem = "Zeeuws volkslied"("Zeelandic Anthem")
, image_map = Zeeland in the Netherlands.svg
, map_alt =
, m ...
and the
Flemish
Flemish (''Vlaams'') is a Low Franconian dialect cluster of the Dutch language. It is sometimes referred to as Flemish Dutch (), Belgian Dutch ( ), or Southern Dutch (). Flemish is native to Flanders, a historical region in northern Belgium; ...
province of
Antwerp
Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504, ,
Flemish Brabant
Flemish Brabant ( nl, Vlaams-Brabant ; french: Brabant flamand ) is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on (clockwise from the North) the Belgian provinces of Antwerp, Limburg, Liège, Walloon Brabant, Haina ...
,
Hainaut and
West Flanders
)
, settlement_type = Province of Belgium
, image_flag = Flag of West Flanders.svg
, flag_size =
, image_shield = Wapen van West-Vlaanderen.svg
, shield_size =
, image_map ...
. It has an area of , divided into six administrative districts containing 60 municipalities, and a population of 1,515,064 as of January 2019. The capital is
Ghent
Ghent ( nl, Gent ; french: Gand ; traditional English: Gaunt) is a city and a municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the East Flanders province, and the third largest in the country, exceeded in ...
, home to the
Ghent University
Ghent University ( nl, Universiteit Gent, abbreviated as UGent) is a public research university located in Ghent, Belgium.
Established before the state of Belgium itself, the university was founded by the Dutch King William I in 1817, when the ...
and the
Port of Ghent
The Port of Ghent is the third busiest seaport in Belgium, located in Ghent, East Flanders in the Flemish Region. The first port of Ghent was situated at the river Scheldt and later on at the Leie. Since the Middle Ages Ghent has sought for a con ...
.
History
During the short-lived
Napoleonic Empire
The First French Empire, officially the French Republic, then the French Empire (; Latin: ) after 1809, also known as Napoleonic France, was the empire ruled by Napoleon Bonaparte, who established French hegemony over much of continental Eur ...
, most of the area of the modern province was part of the
Department of Escaut, named after the
River Scheldt
The Scheldt (french: Escaut ; nl, Schelde ) is a river that flows through northern France, western Belgium, and the southwestern part of Netherlands, the Netherlands, with its mouth at the North Sea. Its name is derived from an adjective corr ...
. Following the defeat of
Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...
, the entity was
renamed after its geographical location in the eastern part of the historic
County of Flanders
The County of Flanders was a historic territory in the Low Countries.
From 862 onwards, the counts of Flanders were among the original twelve peers of the Kingdom of France. For centuries, their estates around the cities of Ghent, Bruges and Ypr ...
(now in the western portion of the current
Flemish Region
The Flemish Region ( nl, Vlaams Gewest, ),; german: Flämische Region usually simply referred to as Flanders ( nl, link=no, Vlaanderen ) ; german: link=no, Flandern is one of the three regions of Belgium—alongside the Walloon Region and t ...
).
The provincial flag has a black lion with red tongue and claws, on a background of horizontal white and green stripes. This is a recent adaptation; formerly, East Flanders used the
Flemish flag, a black lion on a yellow background, as in the current coat of arms. The old flag is still publicly used, e.g. for road signs.
Geography
The province has several geographic or tourist regions:
*
Denderstreek
The Denderstreek or Denderland is a region in Belgium. It is named after the river Dender. Though the river stretches over three provinces, Hainaut, East Flanders and Flemish Brabant, the region called after the river is situated in East Flander ...
*
Meetjesland
The Meetjesland is a historical region in the north-west of the province East Flanders in Belgium.
Etymology
There are many legends surrounding the origin of the name. The most known is the one of Emperor Charles V (Charles V) who was known for h ...
*
Waasland
The Waasland is a Belgian region. It is part of the Belgian provinces of East Flanders and Antwerp. The other borders of the Land van Waas are with the Scheldt and Durme rivers. The (informal) capital and major city of the region is Sint-Niklaas ...
*
Flemish Ardennes
The Flemish Ardennes (Dutch: ''Vlaamse Ardennen'') is an informal name given to a hilly region in the south of the province of East Flanders, Belgium. Highest summit is the Hotondberg (145 m). Main characteristics of the region are rural hilly lan ...
Important rivers are the
Scheldt
The Scheldt (french: Escaut ; nl, Schelde ) is a river that flows through northern France, western Belgium, and the southwestern part of Netherlands, the Netherlands, with its mouth at the North Sea. Its name is derived from an adjective corr ...
and the
Leie
The Lys () or Leie () is a river in France and Belgium, and a left-bank tributary of the Scheldt. Its source is in Pas-de-Calais, France, and it flows into the river Scheldt in Ghent, Belgium. Its total length is .
Historically a very pollute ...
which merge in
Ghent
Ghent ( nl, Gent ; french: Gand ; traditional English: Gaunt) is a city and a municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the East Flanders province, and the third largest in the country, exceeded in ...
. The
Dender
The Dender (Dutch, ) or Dendre ( French, ) is a 65-kilometre (40 mi) long river in Belgium, the right tributary of the river Scheldt. The confluence of the two rivers is in the Belgian town of Dendermonde.
The Western or Little Dender is 22 kilome ...
merges into the
Scheldt
The Scheldt (french: Escaut ; nl, Schelde ) is a river that flows through northern France, western Belgium, and the southwestern part of Netherlands, the Netherlands, with its mouth at the North Sea. Its name is derived from an adjective corr ...
in the city of
Dendermonde
Dendermonde (; french: Termonde, ) is a city in the Flemish province of East Flanders in Belgium. The municipality comprises the city of Dendermonde and the towns of Appels, Baasrode, Grembergen, Mespelare, Oudegem, Schoonaarde, and Sint-Gillis-b ...
.
Subdivisions
East Flanders is divided into 6 administrative
arrondissements
An arrondissement (, , ) is any of various administrative divisions of France, Belgium, Haiti, certain other Francophone countries, as well as the Netherlands.
Europe
France
The 101 French departments are divided into 342 ''arrondissements'', ...
(districts), subdivided into a total of 60 municipalities. In addition, there are 3 judicial and 3 electoral arrondissements.
Demographics
The province has a population of almost 1.5 million. It had 734,000 inhabitants in 1830, when it was the most populated province of Belgium, and about a million in 1900. Population growth halted around the 1980s, but has increased again in the 21st century. Population figures in recent years is as follows:
The capital and biggest city is
Ghent
Ghent ( nl, Gent ; french: Gand ; traditional English: Gaunt) is a city and a municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the East Flanders province, and the third largest in the country, exceeded in ...
, also the second largest city in the
Flemish Region
The Flemish Region ( nl, Vlaams Gewest, ),; german: Flämische Region usually simply referred to as Flanders ( nl, link=no, Vlaanderen ) ; german: link=no, Flandern is one of the three regions of Belgium—alongside the Walloon Region and t ...
. Other smaller cities are
Aalst,
Sint-Niklaas
Sint-Niklaas (; french: Saint-Nicolas, ) 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 .
Sint-Nikl ...
and
Dendermonde
Dendermonde (; french: Termonde, ) is a city in the Flemish province of East Flanders in Belgium. The municipality comprises the city of Dendermonde and the towns of Appels, Baasrode, Grembergen, Mespelare, Oudegem, Schoonaarde, and Sint-Gillis-b ...
in the east of the province. The eastern part of the province, part of the
Flemish Diamond
The Flemish Diamond ( nl, Vlaamse Ruit) is the Flemish reference to a network of four metropolitan areas in Belgium, three of which are in the central provinces of Flanders, together with the Brussels Capital Region.Note: The Flemish government ...
, is more densely populated than the western part.
Economy
The
Gross domestic product
Gross domestic product (GDP) is a money, monetary Measurement in economics, measure of the market value of all the final goods and services produced and sold (not resold) in a specific time period by countries. Due to its complex and subjec ...
(GDP) of the province was 56.4 billion € in 2018. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was 33,000 € or 109% of the EU27 average in the same year.
Government
![Geraardsbergen - Oudeberg top 2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Geraardsbergen_-_Oudeberg_top_2.jpg)
The provincial council (''provincieraad'') consists of 72 members which were last elected in the
2012 elections. Previously it consisted of 84 members. The council currently consists of the following political parties:
*
N-VA
The New Flemish Alliance ( nl, Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie, N-VA) is a Flemish nationalist and conservative political party in Belgium. The party was founded in 2001 by the right-leaning fraction of the centrist-nationalist People's Union (VU).
T ...
(Flemish nationalists): 21 members
*
CD&V
Christian Democratic and Flemish (, , CD&V) is a Flemish Christian-democratic political party in Belgium. The party has historical ties to both trade unionism ( ACV) and trade associations (UNIZO) and the Farmer's League. Until 2001, the party wa ...
(Christian democrats): 15 members
*
Open VLD
french: Libéraux et démocrates flamands ouverts
, abbreviation = Open Vld
, logo =
, leader1_title = President
, leader1_name = Egbert Lachaert
, foundation = 1992 (VLD)2007 (Open Vld)
, predecessor = Pa ...
(liberals): 15 members
*
sp.a
Vooruit (Dutch for Forward, ) is a Flemish social democratic political party in Belgium. The party was known as the Flemish Socialist Party (1978–2001: ''Socialistische Partij'', SP; 2001–2021: ''Socialistische Partij Anders'', SP.A) until 2 ...
(social democrats): 9 members
*
Vlaams Belang
, ideology =
, predecessor = Vlaams Blok
, position =
, europarl = Identity and Democracy
, european = Identity and Democracy Party
, youth_wing = Vlaams Belang Jongeren
, colours =
, ...
(far-right nationalists): 6 members
*
Groen
Groen or de Groen is a surname of Dutch origin, meaning ''green''. (greens): 6 members
Six people chosen by and from the council form the daily government, called the deputation (''deputatie''). The deputation of East Flanders is a coalition of the political parties
CD&V
Christian Democratic and Flemish (, , CD&V) is a Flemish Christian-democratic political party in Belgium. The party has historical ties to both trade unionism ( ACV) and trade associations (UNIZO) and the Farmer's League. Until 2001, the party wa ...
,
Open Vld
french: Libéraux et démocrates flamands ouverts
, abbreviation = Open Vld
, logo =
, leader1_title = President
, leader1_name = Egbert Lachaert
, foundation = 1992 (VLD)2007 (Open Vld)
, predecessor = Pa ...
and
sp.a
Vooruit (Dutch for Forward, ) is a Flemish social democratic political party in Belgium. The party was known as the Flemish Socialist Party (1978–2001: ''Socialistische Partij'', SP; 2001–2021: ''Socialistische Partij Anders'', SP.A) until 2 ...
. The biggest party in the council,
N-VA
The New Flemish Alliance ( nl, Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie, N-VA) is a Flemish nationalist and conservative political party in Belgium. The party was founded in 2001 by the right-leaning fraction of the centrist-nationalist People's Union (VU).
T ...
, is not included.
The daily government is led by the governor, who is appointed by the
Flemish Government
The Flemish Government ( nl, Vlaamse regering ) is the executive branch of the Flemish Community and the Flemish Region of Belgium. It consists of a government cabinet, headed by the Minister-President and accountable to the Flemish Parliament, a ...
.
André Denys
André C. Denys (6 January 1948 in Gistel – 13 May 2013 in Ghent) was a Belgian politician who was the Governor of the province of East Flanders
, native_name_lang =
, settlement_type = Province of Belgi ...
(
VLD
french: Libéraux et démocrates flamands ouverts
, abbreviation = Open Vld
, logo =
, leader1_title = President
, leader1_name = Egbert Lachaert
, foundation = 1992 (VLD)2007 (Open Vld)
, predecessor = P ...
) has been the governor of East Flanders from 26 November 2004 until 21 January 2013.
Jan Briers, who is not member of a political party but was nominated by
N-VA
The New Flemish Alliance ( nl, Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie, N-VA) is a Flemish nationalist and conservative political party in Belgium. The party was founded in 2001 by the right-leaning fraction of the centrist-nationalist People's Union (VU).
T ...
, succeeded him on 1 February 2013.
The province has a yearly budget of approximately 300 million euro.
Governors
* 1830:
Pierre De Ryckere
* 1830–1834:
Werner de Lamberts-Cortenbach
* 1834–1836:
Charles Vilain XIIII
* 1837–1843:
Louis de Schiervel
* 1843–1848:
Leander Desmaisières
* 1848–1871:
Edouard De Jaegher (lib.)
* 1871–1879:
Emile de T'Serclaes De Wommersom
* 1879–1885:
Léon Verhaeghe de Naeyer (lib.)
* 1885–1919:
Raymond de Kerchove d'Exaerde
Raymond is a male given name. It was borrowed into English from French (older French spellings were Reimund and Raimund, whereas the modern English and French spellings are identical). It originated as the Germanic ᚱᚨᚷᛁᚾᛗᚢᚾᛞ ( ...
* 1919–1921:
Maurice Lippens (lib.)
* 1921–1929:
André de Kerchove de Denterghem (lib.)
* 1929–1935:
Karel Weyler (lib.)
* 1935–1938:
Jules Ingenbleek (lib.)
* 1938–1939:
Louis Frederiq (lib)
* 1939–1954:
Maurice Van den Boogaerde
* 1954–1963:
Albert Mariën
Albert may refer to:
Companies
* Albert (supermarket), a supermarket chain in the Czech Republic
* Albert Heijn, a supermarket chain in the Netherlands
* Albert Market, a street market in The Gambia
* Albert Productions, a record label
* Albert ...
(lib.)
* 1963–1984:
Roger de Kinder (
BSP)
* 1984–2004:
Herman Balthazar (
SP.A
Vooruit (Dutch for Forward, ) is a Flemish social democratic political party in Belgium. The party was known as the Flemish Socialist Party (1978–2001: ''Socialistische Partij'', SP; 2001–2021: ''Socialistische Partij Anders'', SP.A) until 2 ...
)
* 2004-2013:
André Denys
André C. Denys (6 January 1948 in Gistel – 13 May 2013 in Ghent) was a Belgian politician who was the Governor of the province of East Flanders
, native_name_lang =
, settlement_type = Province of Belgi ...
(
VLD
french: Libéraux et démocrates flamands ouverts
, abbreviation = Open Vld
, logo =
, leader1_title = President
, leader1_name = Egbert Lachaert
, foundation = 1992 (VLD)2007 (Open Vld)
, predecessor = P ...
)
* 2013-2018:
Jan Briers (''none; nominated by
N-VA
The New Flemish Alliance ( nl, Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie, N-VA) is a Flemish nationalist and conservative political party in Belgium. The party was founded in 2001 by the right-leaning fraction of the centrist-nationalist People's Union (VU).
T ...
'')
* 2018–present:
Carina Van Cauter (
VLD
french: Libéraux et démocrates flamands ouverts
, abbreviation = Open Vld
, logo =
, leader1_title = President
, leader1_name = Egbert Lachaert
, foundation = 1992 (VLD)2007 (Open Vld)
, predecessor = P ...
)
Timeline:
ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:12
PlotArea = top:10 bottom:50 right:100 left:20
AlignBars = late
DateFormat = yyyy
Period = from:1830 till:2013
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:10 start:1830
Colors =
id:liberal value:rgb(0,0,1) legend:liberal
id:catholic value:rgb(1,0.6,0) legend:catholic
id:socialist value:rgb(1,0,0) legend:socialist
id:none value:rgb(0.5,0.5,0.5) legend:none
Legend = columns:4 left:150 top:25 columnwidth:100
TextData =
pos:(20,27) textcolor:black fontsize:M
text:"Political parties:"
BarData =
barset:PM
PlotData=
width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till
barset:PM
from:1830 till:1830 color:catholic text:" De Ryckere" fontsize:10
from:1830 till:1834 color:catholic text:" de Lamberts-Cortenbach" fontsize:10
from:1834 till:1836 color:catholic text:" Vilain" fontsize:10
from:1837 till:1843 color:catholic text:" de Schierve" fontsize:10
from:1843 till:1848 color:catholic text:" Desmaisières" fontsize:10
from:1848 till:1871 color:liberal text:" De Jaegher" fontsize:10
from:1871 till:1879 color:catholic text:" de T'Serclaes De Wommersom" fontsize:10
from:1879 till:1885 color:liberal text:" Verhaeghe de Naeyer" fontsize:10
from:1885 till:1919 color:catholic text:" de Kerchove d'Exaerde" fontsize:10
from:1919 till:1921 color:liberal text:" Lippens" fontsize:10
from:1921 till:1929 color:catholic text:" de Kerchove De Denterghem" fontsize:10
from:1929 till:1935 color:liberal text:" Karel Weyler" fontsize:10
from:1935 till:1938 color:liberal text:" Ingenbleek" fontsize:10
from:1938 till:1939 color:liberal text:" Frederiq" fontsize:10
from:1939 till:1954 color:catholic text:" Van den Boogaerden" fontsize:10
from:1954 till:1963 color:liberal text:" Mariën" fontsize:10
from:1963 till:1984 color:socialist text:" de Kinder" fontsize:10
from:1984 till:2004 color:socialist text:" Balthazar" fontsize:10
from:2004 till:2013 color:liberal text:"Denys
Denys ( uk, Денис) is both a form of the given name Denis and a patronymic surname. Amongst others, it is a transliteration of the common Ukrainian name ''Денис''. Closely related forms are ''Denijs'' and ''Dénys''. Notable people wit ...
" fontsize:10
from:2013 till:2013 color:none text:" Briers" fontsize:10
References
External links
*
Official Website
{{Authority control
NUTS 2 statistical regions of the European Union
Provinces of Flanders