This article is about the Belgian municipality. For other uses see Lede (disambiguation)

Lede
Flag Coat of arms
Lede, Belgium Location in Belgium
Coordinates: 50°58′N 03°59′E / 50.967°N 3.983°E / 50.967; 3.983
Country	Belgium
Region	Flemish Region
Community	Flemish Community
Province	East Flanders
Arrondissement	Aalst
Government
• Mayor	Geert Grepdon (VLD)
• Governing party/ies	VLD, CD&V
Area
• Total	29.69 km2 (11.46 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2011)[1]
• Total	17,889
• Density	600/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
Postal codes	9340
Area codes	053, 09
Website	www.lede.be
Map of Lede, Belgium

Lede is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek, nearby cities are Gent, Aalst and Dendermonde. The municipality comprises the sub-municipalities of Impe, Lede proper, Oordegem, Smetlede, Wanzele, and the hamlet of Papegem. All the sub-municipalities and also the hamlet are crossed by the Molenbeek. In 2011, Lede had a total population of 17,882.^[2] The total area is 29.69 km² which gives a population density of 575 inhabitants per km². The current mayor of Lede is Geert Grepdon, from the VLD (Liberal) party.

Lede is known for a specific statue of St-Mary, "Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-van-Zeven-Smarten" (Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows), to which a local myth attributes magical powers, making Lede into a local pilgrimage destination. The statue is taken around in a procession during a Sunday in June, after the biannual nine-day festival. The local church, built in 1496, houses the statue. The abandoned Castle of Mesen is situated in central Lede. Its destruction has been started in April 2010.

References [link]

External links [link]

• The website of Lede
• Short history of Lede

v t e Municipalities in the Province of East Flanders, Flanders, Belgium Aalst Aalst Denderleeuw Erpe-Mere Geraardsbergen Haaltert Herzele Lede Ninove Sint-Lievens-Houtem Zottegem Dendermonde Berlare Buggenhout Dendermonde Hamme Laarne Lebbeke Waasmunster Wetteren Wichelen Zele Eeklo Assenede Eeklo Kaprijke Maldegem Sint-Laureins Zelzate Ghent Aalter Deinze De Pinte Destelbergen Evergem Gavere Ghent Knesselare Lochristi Lovendegem Melle Merelbeke Moerbeke-Waas Nazareth Nevele Oosterzele Sint-Martens-Latem Waarschoot Wachtebeke Zomergem Zulte Oudenaarde Brakel Horebeke Kluisbergen Kruishoutem Lierde Maarkedal Oudenaarde Ronse Wortegem-Petegem Zingem Zwalm Sint-Niklaas Beveren Kruibeke Lokeren Sint-Gillis-Waas Sint-Niklaas Stekene Temse

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