Zottegem
Zottegem is a municipality located in Belgium and more particularly in Flanders, in the province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the town of Zottegem proper and the villages of Elene, Erwetegem, Godveerdegem, Grotenberge, Leeuwergem, Oombergen, Sint-Goriks-Oudenhove, Sint-Maria-Oudenhove, Strijpen and Velzeke-Ruddershove. On January 1, 2018, Zottegem had a total population of 26,373. The total area is 56.66 km² which gives a population density of 470 inhabitants per km².
Zottegem is part of the hilly geographical area of the Flemish Ardennes ; the hills and cobblestone streets are regular locations in the springtime cycle classics of Flanders. The city is known for its ties with Lamoral, Count of Egmont; Lamoral has a castle, a museum and two statues in the centre of Zottegem. He is buried in a crypt under the church. Leeuwergem castle in Elene is an 18th-century stately home; Breivelde castle in Grotenberge is surrounded by an English landscape garden. The archaeological museum in Velzeke exhibits findings from Gallo-Roman culture.Places of interest
Famous inhabitants
- Urbain Braems, football player and manager, lives in Zottegem
- Bart De Clercq, cyclist
- Patricia de Martelaere, writer
- , former rector of Ghent University
- Jessy De Smet, singer
- Lamoral, Count of Egmont, general and statesman, is buried in Zottegem
- Tim Matthys, football player, lives in Zottegem
- Laurent Merchiers, politician
- Lyne Renée, actress
- Paul Van Cauwenberge, former rector of Ghent University
- , actress