Bellem Explained

Bellem
Settlement Type:Village
Pushpin Map:Belgium
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Belgium
Pushpin Mapsize:250
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Belgium
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:East Flanders
Subdivision Type2:Municipality
Subdivision Name2:Aalter
Area Total Km2:12.29
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population As Of:2021
Population Total:2,240
Population Density Km2:auto
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Area Code Type:Area code
Timezone:CET
Coordinates:51.09°N 3.4902°W

Bellem is a village and deelgemeente (sub-municipality) in the municipality of Aalter in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The village was originally called Bethlehem.[2] Bellem is located about west of Ghent.[3]

History

The parish Bellem was founded around 1240 as Bethlehem. It was first mentioned as Bellem in 1291. The village was a heerlijkheid, but used to contain five enclaves containing farms belonging to Schuurvelde. In 1577, Bellem and Schuurvelde were merged into a single heerlijkheid. Around 1650, a castle was built, and Bellem was elevated to barony in 1655.[2] [4]

Between 1613 and 1623, the was dug and two forts were constructed by the Spanish near Bellem. This resulted in frequent attacks first by the Dutch Republic and from 1648 onwards by France. The arrival of the railway and later the motorway E40 did not result in significant growth, and Belem remained a rural agricultural village.[2] [4]

Buildings and sights

The Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Geboorte Church is a three aisled church without transepts with a built-in tower. The original church was built in the second half of the 16th century, and the lower part of the tower is still original. In 1847 and between 1870 and 1874, the church was enlarged and received its current shape. The church burnt down on 10 September 1944 and was rebuilt in 1950 according to its original design.[2] [5]

Mariahoeve Castle was originally an estate of the Lord of Bellem and Schuurvelde. Around 1650, a castle was built. The castle had turned to ruin by the mid 18th century. In 1808, the domain was bought by the industrialist who rebuilt the castle in 1815. The building was redesigned in neoclassic style between 1855 and 1860. In 1963, the castle was bought by the congregations of Sisters of the Diocese of Ghent who use it as a retirement home and have renamed the castle Mariahove.[6]

Notable people

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bevolking per statistische sector - Sector 44001B . Statistics Belgium . 7 May 2022 .
  2. Web site: Bellem . Mijn Platteland . 7 May 2022 . nl.
  3. Web site: Distance Bellem, Aalter, BEL -> Ghent, BEL . Distance.to . 7 May 2022 . nl.
  4. Web site: Bellem . Agentschap Onroerend Erfgoed . 7 May 2022 . nl.
  5. Web site: Parochiekerk Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Geboorte met kerkhof . Agentschap Onroerend Erfgoed . 7 May 2022 . nl.
  6. Web site: Kasteeldomein van Bellem . Agentschap Onroerend Erfgoed . 7 May 2022 . nl.
  7. Web site: Flor Grammens (1899-1985) . Aalter . 7 May 2022 . nl.