Lede

Infobox Belgium Municipality
name=Lede
picture=
picture-



map-

arms=


region=BE-REG-FLE
community=BE-NL
province=BE-PROV-OV
arrondissement=Aalst
nis=41034
pyramid-date=
0-19=
20-64=
65=
foreigners=
foreigners-date=
mayor= Geert Grepdon (VLD)
majority=VLD, CD&V
postal-codes=9340
telephone-area=053, 09
web= [http://www.lede.be/ www.lede.be]
lat_deg=50
lat_min=58
lon_deg=03
lon_min=59

Lede is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Impe, Lede proper, Oordegem, Smetlede, Wanzele and Papegem. On January 1, 2006 Lede had a total population of 17,068. 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. It is scheduled to be destroyed in 2007.

External links

*http://www.lede.be The website of Lede
*http://www.imca-slotracing.com/SS1.htm Short history of Lede