Country Belgium Region Flemish Region Arrondissement Dendermonde Area 25.25 km² Local time Monday 8:47 AM | Community Flemish Community Province East Flanders Postal codes 9255 Postal code 9255 Area code 052 | |
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Weather 6°C, Wind SW at 13 km/h, 93% Humidity | ||
Buggenhout ( [ˈbɵɣə(n)ɦʌut]) is a municipality in the Belgian province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek. The municipality comprises the towns of Buggenhout proper, Briel, Opdorp, and Opstal. On December 31, 2013, Buggenhout had a total population of 14,444. The total area is 25.25 square kilometres, which gives a population density of 572 inhabitants per square kilometre. The current mayor of Buggenhout is Tom Van Herreweghe, from the (local) NCD party.
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Map of Buggenhout, Belgium
Buggenhout is also known for its forest, the "Buggenhoutbos", which is the largest forest of East Flanders.
In Opdorp lays the geographic centre of Flanders.
Buggenhout has two breweries, Bosteels Brewery (known for the "Tripel Karmeliet", "Deus" (a champagne beer), "Kwak") and De Landtsheer, now called Brouwerij Malheur (known for "Malheur").
Etymology
The original meaning of the name is "beechwood" or "beech forest" (in modern Dutch: Beukenhout). The name is derived from the Middle Dutch Bucghenhout from Old Dutch Bukenholt. Buken comes from Proto-Germanic *bokjon (Modern Dutch: beuken, Old English: becen (beechs)), holt from *hulta (Modern Dutch: hout (bos), Old English: holt (forest)). Buggenhout still contains a small forested area called Buggenhoutbos.