Zele () 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 ...

located in the

Belgian Belgian may refer to: * Something of, or related to, Belgium * Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent * Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German *Ancient Belgian language, an extinct languag ...

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 ...

, around 20 km east of

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 municipality only comprises the town of Zele proper. In 2021, Zele had a total population of 21,333. The total area is 33.06 km² which gives a

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

Famous inhabitants

* Basile De Loose, painter (1809–1885) *

Pierre de Decker Pierre (Pieter) Jacques François de Decker (25 January 1812 – 4 January 1891) was a Belgian Roman Catholic politician, statesman and author. He was educated at a Jesuit school, studied law at Paris, and became one of the editors of the '' Rev ...

, former

Prime Minister of Belgium german: Premierminister von Belgien , insignia = State Coat of Arms of Belgium.svg , insigniasize = 100px , insigniacaption = Coat of arms , insigniaalt = , flag = Government ...

(1855–1857) (1812–1891) *

Aloïs de Beule Aloïs De Beule (27 August 1861 in Zele – 15 December 1935 in Ghent) was a Belgian sculptor. Biography Aged ten he entered his father's shoemaking business. He studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and the Sint-Lucasschool in Ghent where h ...

, sculptor (1861–1935) *

Filip De Wilde Filip Alfons De Wilde (born 5 July 1964) is a former Belgian professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. During a 23-year professional career he played mainly with Anderlecht, appearing in nearly 400 official games in two different spe ...

, professional football player (b. 1964) * Lieven Maesschalck, physiotherapist (b. 1964) * Christophe Impens, Belgian record holder 1500 m run, semi-finalist at Atlanta Olympics (b. 1969) * Caroline Maes, professional tennis player (b. 1982) *

Vanessa Van Cartier Vanessa Crokaert (born 3 December 1979), better known by the stage name Vanessa Van Cartier, is a Belgian-Dutch drag queen based in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. She is best known for winning the second season of ''Drag Race Holland''. She became ...

, drag queen and winner of Drag Race Holland (b. 1979)

References

External links

*
Official website
Municipalities of East Flanders Populated places in East Flanders {{EastFlanders-geo-stub