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Merchtem

Field	Value
name	Merchtem
map	Merchtem Flemish-Brabant Belgium Map.svg
map-legend	Location of Merchtem in Flemish Brabant
arms	Blason Merchtem.svg
flag	Merchtem vlag.svg
arrondissement	Halle-Vilvoorde
nis	23052
mayor	Maarten Mast (Lijst1785)
majority	Lijst1785, CD&V PLUS
postal-codes	1785
telephone-area	052, 02
web	www.merchtem.be
coordinates

|picture-legend = |map-legend = Location of Merchtem in Flemish Brabant |pyramid-date= |0-19= |20-64= |foreigners-date= |postal-codes = 1785 |telephone-area = 052, 02 Merchtem () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the villages of Brussegem and Hamme, the hamlets of Ossel and Peizegem, and Merchtem proper. On July 9, 2009, Merchtem had a total population of 15,298. The total area is 36.72 km2 which gives a population density of 416 inhabitants per km2.

Folklore

Merchtem is known for 'de steltenlopers', people walking on stilts (up to several meters above ground). Langevelde, a part of the municipality, was frequently flooded after heavy rain. In order to reach the centre, people were using sticks to walk. After an internal struggle, the group split up in two parts, 'stichting Langevelde' and 'stichting Jan Vaderhasselt'.

Language controversy

On August 28, 2006 mayor Eddie de Block introduced a ban on speaking French in the town's schools. Mayor de Block said that the measure did not violate human rights and that it would help integration. A previous ban on signs in languages different from Dutch in the town's markets had been overturned by Flemish Interior Minister Marino Keulen.

Places of interest

File:Parochiekerk Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Kerkstraat Merchtem Belgium.jpg|Onze-Lieve-Vrouw church File:Merchtemsteltenlopers.jpg|Steltenlopers File:Merchtem station.jpg|Merchtem station

References

"Merchtem: bevolkingsaantal op 9 juli 2009". merchtem.be.
(September 1, 2006). "Belgian town bans school French". BBC News.

Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

municipalities-of-flemish-brabant

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