Stekene () is a

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

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 language ...

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 ...

. Since 1976, the municipality has comprised the towns of Kemzeke,

Klein-Sinaai Klein-Sinaai is a village near the Dutch border in the Belgian municipality of Stekene in the province of East Flanders. Until 1977 it was a part of the municipality of Sinaai. In Klein-Sinaai are the remains of (also known as Boudeloo Abbey), ...

and Stekene proper. It also includes the village

Koewacht Koewacht is a village on the border between the Netherlands and Belgium. The village consists of two parts; a Dutch and a (smaller) Belgian part. Overview The Dutch part is located in Zeelandic Flanders, a part of the province of Zeeland and p ...

. In 2021, Stekene had a total population of 18,863. The total area is 44.80 km². Stekene profiles itself as an oasis of green within industrialized

Flanders Flanders (, ; Dutch: ''Vlaanderen'' ) is the Flemish-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to cultu ...

as a large part of its area consists of forests and agricultural lands. The E34 road, from Antwerp to the coast, passes through the municipality and also has its own access to it. Another part of the community is the N403, which connects to

Sint-Niklaas Sint-Niklaas (; french: Saint-Nicolas, ) is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Sint-Niklaas proper and the towns of Belsele, Nieuwkerken-Waas, and . Sint-N ...

Geography

The municipality of Stekene is located in the region of

Waasland The Waasland is a Belgian region. It is part of the Belgian provinces of East Flanders and Antwerp. The other borders of the Land van Waas are with the Scheldt and Durme rivers. The (informal) capital and major city of the region is Sint-Niklaa ...

, on the border with the Netherlands, 10 km north-west of Sint-Niklaas and 20 km west of Antwerp. Stekene borders Sint-Gillis-Waas in the east,

to the south,

Moerbeke Moerbeke () is a municipality in the Belgian province of East Flanders. It is sometimes unofficially called Moerbeke-Waas () to distinguish between this place and in Geraardsbergen. The municipality comprises the town of Moerbeke proper, and p ...

to the west and the Dutch town of

Hulst Hulst () is a municipality and city in southwestern Netherlands in the east of Zeelandic Flanders. History Hulst received city rights in the 12th century. Hulst was captured from the Spanish in 1591 by Maurice of Orange but was recaptured ...

to the north. It is distant from Antwerp. Stekene, de Heilige Kruiskerk oeg15459 foto4 2013-05-06 15

References

External links

*
Official website
{{Authority control Municipalities of East Flanders Waasland Populated places in East Flanders