Hamme () is a

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...

located in the Belgian province of

East Flanders East Flanders ( ; ; ; ) is a Provinces of Belgium, province of Belgium. It borders (clockwise from the North) the Netherlands, Dutch province of Zeeland and the Belgian provinces of Antwerp (province), Antwerp, Flemish Brabant, Hainaut (provinc ...

. The municipality comprises the settlements of Hamme proper, Kastel Moerzeke, and . In 2018, Hamme had a total population of 24,827. The total area is 40.21 km². The current mayor of Hamme is Herman Vijt, from the

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 w ...

(

Christian Democratic Christian democracy is an ideology inspired by Christian social teaching to respond to the challenges of contemporary society and politics. Christian democracy has drawn mainly from Catholic social teaching and neo-scholasticism, as well ...

) party.

Folklore

Hamme also has its own legends, most famously that of the " Hamse Wuiten". The people of Hamme are also called ''Hamse Wuitens''. The "Hamse wuiten" is also the main mascot in a street parade at the end of March every year. The inhabitants dress up and build big trucks with giant puppets, making fun of local and national politicians and scandals.

Sport

In 1967 Hamme born Ferdinand Bracke was voted Belgian Sportsman of the Year (the first in history to receive this award) and was also awarded the Belgian Sports Merit Award The 6th stage of the

X²O Badkamers Trophy The Cyclo-cross Trophy (), also known as X²O Badkamers Trophy (), is a Belgian cyclo-cross racing series currently sponsored by X²O Badkamers (X²O Bathrooms). It is one of the three major season-long competitions in Cyclo-cross, the other two ...

2023–24 UCI Cyclo-cross season was held at Hamme on 27 January 2024.

Fem Van Empel Fem van Empel (born 3 September 2002) is a Dutch professional racing cyclist. In January 2021, she won the women's under-23 race at the 2021 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships. During the 2022–2023 season she won the women's elite race at t ...

took 1st place.

Transport

Hamme is located near the N41 road and E17, providing quick access to nearby cities

Dendermonde Dendermonde (; , ) is a city in the Flemish Region, Flemish Provinces of Belgium, province of East Flanders in Belgium. The Municipalities of Belgium, municipality comprises the city of Dendermonde and the towns of Appels, Baasrode, Grembergen, M ...

and

Sint Maarten Sint Maarten () is a Countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands located in the Caribbean region of North America. With a population of 58,477 as of June 2023 on an area of , it encompasses ...

, but also some more distant locations such as

Antwerp Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...

and

Ghent Ghent ( ; ; historically known as ''Gaunt'' in English) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the Provinces of Belgium, province ...

Notable inhabitants

* Ferdinand Bracke, cyclist *

Herman Brusselmans Herman Frans Martha Brusselmans (; born 9 October 1957) is a Belgian novelist, poet, playwright and columnist. He lives in Ghent. He is one of the best-selling authors in Flanders, but controversial at the same time for his profane language and o ...

, writer * Amaat Joos, Canon and antropologue * Linde Merckpoel, radio presenter * Frans Van Damme, painter * Benoît Van Uytvanck, sculptor * Kristel Verbeke, singer * Hanne Verbruggen, singer * Petrus Vertenten, missionary and portraitist

References

External links