Zelzate () is a
municipality located in the
Belgian province of
East Flanders. The municipality only comprises the town of Zelzate proper. In 2021, Zelzate had a total population of 13,124. The total area is 13.71 km
2.
Zelzate is divided into two parts by the
Ghent–Terneuzen Canal. There is a
concrete drawbridge
A drawbridge or draw-bridge is a type of moveable bridge typically at the entrance to a castle or tower surrounded by a moat. In some forms of English, including American English, the word ''drawbridge'' commonly refers to all types of moveable ...
and a tunnel to connect the two sides. Zelzate is known for the nearby
polluting
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. Pollution can take the form of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such as radioactivity, heat, sound, or light). Pollutants, the ...
industry, which makes it the village with the lowest air quality in the country.
Lucht publicaties H7
/ref> Recently ArcelorMittal Ghent
ArcelorMittal Ghent is a Belgian steelworks situated in Ghent near Zelzate, Flanders. It was founded in 1962 by ARBED as Sidmar; the first maritime steel producer in Belgium.
History
Background
Traditionally the steelworks of Belgium had been c ...
(Sidmar) made a major investment which resulted in an emission decrease of 90%.
Notable citizens
* Eric Verpaele
Eric Verpaele (Zelzate, 2 February 1952 – Ertvelde, 10 August 2015) pseudonym Eriek Verpale was a Belgian writer. He attended a boarding school in Oostakker and studied Germanic and Slavic philology at the University of Ghent. He was an editor ...
(b. Zelzate, 2 February 1952), writer
* Eddy Wally
Eduard Van De Walle (12 July 1932 – 6 February 2016), known by his stage name Eddy Wally, was a Belgian schlager singer from Zelzate, East Flanders, and the once self-proclaimed "Voice of Europe".
As a crooner and showman, Eddy Wally toured ...
(b. Zelzate, 12 July 1932), singer
Sister cities
The town is twinned with:
* Aubenas (France)
* Cesenatico (Italy)
* Delfzijl (Netherlands) (Not longer twinned with)
* Schwarzenbek (Germany)
* Sierre (Switzerland)
References
External links
*
Official website
Municipalities of East Flanders
Populated places in East Flanders
{{EastFlanders-geo-stub