Kruisem () is a

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 ...

in the Belgian province of

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

that was established on 1 January 2019 from the merging of the municipalities of

Kruishoutem Kruishoutem (, in French and English ''Cruyshautem'') is a village and was a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprised the towns of Kruishoutem proper, Nokere and Wannegem-Lede. In January 2018, the ...

and

Zingem Zingem () is a village and former municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprised the towns of Huise, Ouwegem and Zingem proper. In 2018, the municipality of Zingem had a total population of 7,552. The t ...

. The merged municipality has an area of 71.59 km² and a population of 15,876 people as of 2022. The municipality consists of the ''

deelgemeente A deelgemeente (, literally ''part-municipality'') or section ( French) is a subdivision of a municipality in Belgium and, until March 2014, in the Netherlands as well. Belgium Each municipality in Belgium that existed as a separate entity on 1 J ...

s''

Huise Huise is a village and ''deelgemeente'' (sub-municipality) on a hill within the municipality of Kruisem, part of the province of East Flanders in Belgium. History It was mentioned in an 877 charter (granting permission to build a church for the ...

, , Ouwegem, and

Creation

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 ...

provides incentives for municipalities to voluntarily merge. The municipal councils of Kruishoutem and Zingem approved a merge in 2017, which was ratified by Flemish

decree A decree is a legal proclamation, usually issued by a head of state (such as the president of a republic or a monarch), according to certain procedures (usually established in a constitution). It has the force of law. The particular term used for ...

of 4 May 2018 alongside several other merges, all to be effective per 1 January 2019. As of 1 January 2018, the municipality of Kruishoutem had a population of 8,086 and Zingem a population of 7,552.

Government

The first elections for the new municipality were held during the regular local elections of 14 October 2018, electing a municipal council for the legislative period of 2019–2024. CD&V obtained a majority of seats in the municipal council (14 out of 25).

Joop Verzele Joop is a Dutch masculine given name, often a short form (hypocorism) of Johannes, Joseph, Jacobus, or other names. It may refer to: * Jogchum T. Joop Alberda (born 1952), Dutch volleyball coach, coach of the 1996 Olympic champion Dutch team * Jo ...

becomes mayor of Kruisem.

References

Municipalities of East Flanders Populated places established in 2019 2019 establishments in Belgium {{EastFlanders-geo-stub