Country Belgium Region Flemish Region Area codes 059 Postal code 8470 Local time Tuesday 9:39 AM Arrondissement Arrondissement of Ostend | Community Flemish Community Postal codes 8470 Website www.gistel.be Province West Flanders Area code 059 | |
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Weather 7°C, Wind SW at 16 km/h, 96% Humidity Governing parties Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams, New Flemish Alliance, Socialistische Partij Anders | ||
Gistel is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders.
Contents
Map of Gistel, Belgium
Following local government boundary reforms in 1971 and 1977, the municipality has comprised not only Gistel, but also the towns of Moere, Snaaskerke and Zevekote.
On January 1, 2006 the Gistel municipality had a total registered population of 11,125, of whom more than 8,000 were in Gistel itself. The total area is 42.25 km² which gives a population density of 263 inhabitants per km². The German town of Büdingen is its twin town.
Celebrity connections
The most famous inhabitant of Gistel was Sylvère Maes, winner of the Tour de France in 1936 and 1939.
Another former resident of Gistel is Johan Museeuw, also famous cyclist, but now retired. He won Paris–Roubaix three times.
In 2011, a museum opened in Gistel, in honor of Maes and Museeuw.
The present mayor, Bart Halewyck, was the first hacker ever convicted in Belgium after the 'Bistel Trial' in 1990. He was already alderman and had to resign after his conviction.