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 ...

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 i ...

. 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 RosenberPopu ...

Famous inhabitants

Basile De Loose Basile De Loose (17 December 1809 – 24 October 1885) was a Belgian painter. He was born in Zele, East Flanders, United Kingdom of the Netherlands, on 17 December 1809, to Johannes Josephus de Loose. Also his father was a painter. Twelve painting ...

, painter (1809–1885) * Pierre de Decker, 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 ...

, 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 spel ...

, professional football player (b. 1964) *

Lieven Maesschalck Lieven Maesschalck (born 1964 in Zele) is a Belgian physiotherapist who worked among others with the Belgian national football team. As a physiotherapist he also treats multiple sportsmen. Biography In 1987 he took over the private practice o ...

, physiotherapist (b. 1964) *

Christophe Impens Christophe Impens (born 9 December 1969 in Ghent) is a retired Belgian athlete who competed in middle-distance events. He represented his country at the 1996 Summer Olympics, as well as two outdoor and two indoor World Championships. His biggest ...

, Belgian record holder 1500 m run, semi-finalist at Atlanta Olympics (b. 1969) *

Caroline Maes Caroline Maes (born 9 November 1982) is a former Belgian tennis player. Maes has been active in the singles game since 1997 and doubles since 1999. The highest place she ever achieved in the WTA rankings in singles is 151st on 28 May 2007. In do ...

, 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 ''Drag Race Holland'' is a Dutch reality competition streaming television series based on the American '' RuPaul's Drag Race''. The television series is produced by Vincent TV and World of Wonder. The show is the fifth international version of ...

(b. 1979)

References

External links

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