:Lovendegem

{{Infobox settlement

|official_name = Lovendegem

|other_name =

|motto =

|settlement_type = Village and former municipality

|image_skyline = 5662lovendegem.jpg

|image_caption = Lovendegem, seen across the Ghent-Bruges Canal

|image_flag = Lovendegem vlag.svg

|image_seal = Blason ville be Lovendegem.svg

|image_map =

|pushpin_map = Belgium

|pushpin_label_position = right

|pushpin_map_caption = Location in Belgium

|pushpin_mapsize = 250

|subdivision_type = Country

|subdivision_type1 = Region

|subdivision_type2 = Province

|subdivision_type3 = Arrondissement

|subdivision_type4 = Municipality

|subdivision_name = {{flagcountry|Belgium}}

|subdivision_name1 = Flemish Region

|subdivision_name2 = East Flanders

|subdivision_name3 = Ghent

|subdivision_name4 = Lievegem

|established_title =

|established_date =

|government_type =

|leader_title =

|leader_name =

|area_footnotes =

|area_magnitude =

|area_total_sq_mi =

|area_total_km2 = 19.55

|area_land_sq_mi =

|area_land_km2 =

|area_water_sq_mi =

|area_water_km2 =

|area_urban_sq_mi =

|area_urban_km2 =

|area_metro_km2 =

|area_metro_sq_mi =

|population_as_of = 2021

|population_footnotes = {{cite web|url=https://statbel.fgov.be/sites/default/files/files/opendata/bevolking/sectoren/OPENDATA_SECTOREN_2021.xlsx |title=Bevolking per statistische sector - Sector 44036 |quote=Includes Vinderhoute |website=Statistics Belgium |access-date=6 May 2022 }}

|population_total = 9,703

|population_density_km2 = auto

|population_density_sq_mi =

|population_metro =

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|timezone = CET

|utc_offset =

|coordinates = {{coord|51|06|N|03|36|E|region:BE|display=inline,title}}

|elevation_footnotes =

|elevation_ft =

|elevation_m =

|postal_code_type = Postal code

|postal_code = 9920, 9921

|area_code_type = Dialing code

|area_code = 09

|telephone-area =

|website = [http://www.lievegem.be/ www.lievegem.be]

|footnotes =

}}

Lovendegem ({{IPA|nl|loːˈvɛndəɣɛm}}) is a town and former municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the province of East Flanders. The municipality comprised the towns of Lovendegem proper and Vinderhoute.{{cite web

|url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~noemeetjesland/meetjesland/vinderhoute.htm

|title=Vinderhoute}} In 2018, Lovendegem had a total population of 9,574. The total area is 19.48 km².{{cite web|url=https://statbel.fgov.be/sites/default/files/files/documents/bevolking/5.1%20Structuur%20van%20de%20bevolking/Wettelijke_bevolking_per_gemeente_2011_2017.xls |title="Wettelijke Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2018" |website=StatBel |access-date=9 March 2019}}

History

The name of the town was first recorded as Lovendenghiem in 1150,{{cite web

|url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~noemeetjesland/meetjesland/lovendegem.htm

|title=Lovendegem}} but there are traces of human settlements back to the Iron Age. The name means "settlement of the people of Lubantos (person)". Lovendegem used to be a complicated patchwork of heerlijkheden (landed estates) and one barony. The religious wars of the late 16th century and the subsequent repression by the Iron Duke caused a near abandonment of Lovendegem. For most of its history, it was an agricultural community. From the 1960s onwards, Lovendegem developed into a residential town. and experienced a steady population growth.{{cite web|url=https://mijnplatteland.com/meetjesland/lovendegem/nl/ |title=Lovendegem |website=Mijn platteland |access-date=7 May 2022 |language=nl}}

The Ghent-Bruges Canal crosses the municipality, with the town of Lovendegem to the north of the canal, and Vinderhoute to the south.

Effective 1 January 2019, Waarschoot, Lovendegem and Zomergem were merged into the new municipality of Lievegem.{{cite web|url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20171221_03256786 |title=Drie kleintjes zijn liever samen groot: in 2019 worden inwoners wakker in Lievegem |website=Nieuwsblad |access-date=7 May 2022 |language=nl}}