The Meetjesland is a historical region in the north-west of the province East Flanders

East Flanders

East Flanders is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Netherlands and in Belgium on the provinces of Antwerp, Flemish Brabant , of Hainaut and of West Flanders...

 in Belgium

Belgium

Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

.

Etymology

There are many legends surrounding the origin of the name. The most known is the one of Emperor Charles V (Charles V) who was known for his sexual appetite. The story goes that when he traveled through the region people hid their daughters and their attractive young women, making emperor Charles think this region was full of old women (meetjes).

Geography

Due to its historical nature, "Meetjesland" is not a fixed region as such. Even so, it is widely accepted to comprise the following municipalities:

• Aalter
  Aalter
  Aalter is a municipality located between Bruges and Ghent in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Aalter, Bellem, Lotenhulle and Poeke. It is bordered on the north by Knesselare, on the east by Zomergem and Nevele, on the south by Deinze, and on the west by...
  
  
• Assenede
  Assenede
  Assenede is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Assenede proper, Bassevelde, Boekhoute and Oosteeklo. On January 1, 2006 Assenede had a total population of 13,552...
  
  
• Eeklo
  Eeklo
  Eeklo is a Belgian municipality in the Flemish province of East Flanders. The municipality only comprises the city of Eeklo proper. The name Eeklo comes from the contraction of “eke” and “lo”, two Old German words meaning “oak” and “sparse woods”....
  
  
• Evergem
  Evergem
  Evergem is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Belzele, Doornzele, Ertvelde, Evergem proper, Kerkbrugge-Langerbrugge, Kluizen, Rieme, Sleidinge and Wippelgem. On January 1, 2006 Evergem had a total population of 32,244...
  
  
• Kaprijke
  Kaprijke
  Kaprijke is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Kaprijke proper and Lembeke. On January 1, 2006 Kaprijke had a total population of 6,128. The total area is 33.71 km² which gives a population density of 182 inhabitants per...
  
  
• Knesselare
  Knesselare
  Knesselare is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Knesselare proper and Ursel. On January 1, 2006 Knesselare had a total population of 7,885...
  
  
• Lovendegem
  Lovendegem
  Lovendegem is a municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Lovendegem proper and Vinderhoute. On January 1, 2006 Lovendegem had a total population of 9,358...
  
  
• Maldegem
  Maldegem
  Maldegem is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the villages of Maldegem, Adegem and Middelburg. Kleit and Donk have always been separate hamlets of Maldegem. On January 1, 2006 Maldegem had a total population of 22,289. The total area is...
  
  
• Nevele
  Nevele
  Nevele is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Hansbeke, Landegem, Merendree, Nevele proper, Poesele and Vosselare. On January 1, 2006 Nevele had a total population of 11,217...
  
  
• Sint-Laureins
  Sint-Laureins
  Sint-Laureins is a municipality located in the Flemish province of East Flanders, in Belgium. The municipality comprises the towns of Sint-Jan-in-Eremo, Sint-Laureins proper, Sint-Margriete, Waterland-Oudeman and Watervliet. On January 1, 2006 Sint-Laureins had a total population of 6,582...
  
  
• Waarschoot
  Waarschoot
  Waarschoot is a municipality located in the Flemish province of East Flanders, in Belgium. The municipality comprises the towns of Waarschoot proper. On January 1, 2006 Waarschoot had a total population of 7,805. The total area is 21.91 km² which gives a population density of 356 inhabitants...
  
  
• Wachtebeke
  Wachtebeke
  Wachtebeke is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the town of Wachtebeke proper, and a smaller town: Overslag. On January 1, 2006 Wachtebeke had a total population of 6,881...
  
  
• Zelzate
  Zelzate
  Zelzate is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality only comprises the town of Zelzate proper. On January 1, 2006 Zelzate had a total population of 12,176. The total area is 13.71 km² which gives a population density of 888 inhabitants per km².Zelzate is...
  
  
• Zomergem
  Zomergem
  Zomergem is a municipality located in the Flanders and in the province of East Flanders, in Belgium. The municipality comprises the towns of Oostwinkel, Ronsele and Zomergem proper. On January 1, 2006 Zomergem had a total population of 8,011. The total area is 38.78 km² which gives a population...
  
  

Eeklo

Eeklo

Eeklo is a Belgian municipality in the Flemish province of East Flanders. The municipality only comprises the city of Eeklo proper. The name Eeklo comes from the contraction of “eke” and “lo”, two Old German words meaning “oak” and “sparse woods”....

is considered to be the capital of "Meetjesland".

External links