Hemelveerdegem is a

village A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town (although the word is often used to describe both hamlets and smaller towns), with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to ...

and

borough A borough is an administrative division in various English-speaking countries. In principle, the term ''borough'' designates a self-governing walled town, although in practice, official use of the term varies widely. History In the Middle Ag ...

which makes up part of the

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

of Lierde in the Denderstreek in the Belgian

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 ...

East Flanders , native_name_lang = , settlement_type = Province of Belgium , image_flag = Flag of Oost-Vlaanderen.svg , flag_size = , image_shield = Wapen van O ...

. The village and estate were ruled from 1752 by the armigerous Boelare family.

Overview

The village was first mentioned around 963 as Ermfredeghe. In 1752, the village became part of the barony of Boelare. In 1977, the municipality was merged into Lierde. The Saint John the Baptist Church mainly dates from the 18th century, however some parts have been estimated to originate from the 14th to 16th century. The

reredos A reredos ( , , ) is a large altarpiece, a screen, or decoration placed behind the altar in a church. It often includes religious images. The term ''reredos'' may also be used for similar structures, if elaborate, in secular architecture, for ex ...

(altar piece) dates from the early 16th century, and is considered a masterpiece of wood work. The church has been designated a protected monument in 1969. The village's

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central ele ...

shows a beehive with a

lion The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'' native to Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body; short, rounded head; round ears; and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is sexually dimorphi ...

behind it. The arms were granted on 4 August 1818 and were confirmed on 7 September 1928.

References

External links

* Lierde Populated places in East Flanders {{EastFlanders-geo-stub