Hamme

{{Infobox Belgium municipality

|name = Hamme

|picture = Hamme - Town hall 1.jpg

|picture-legend = Town hall

|map = Hamme East-Flanders Belgium Map.svg

|map-legend = Location of Hamme in East Flanders

|arms = Blason ville be Hamme.svg

|flag = Flag of Hamme (East Flanders).svg

|region = {{BE-REG-FLE}}

|community = {{BE-NL}}

|province = {{BE-PROV-OV}}

|arrondissement = Dendermonde

|nis = 42008

|pyramid-date=01/01/2006

|0-19=22.87

|20-64=59.68

|65=17.45

|foreigners=1.74

|foreigners-date=01/07/2005

|mayor = Herman Vijt (CD&V)

|majority = CD&V, Vooruit, N-VA

|postal-codes = 9220

|telephone-area = 052

|web = [http://www.hamme.be/ www.hamme.be]

|coordinates = {{coord|51|05|N|04|08|E|region:BE|display=inline,title}}

}}

Hamme ({{IPA|nl|ˈɦɑmə}}) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the settlements of Hamme proper, Kastel Moerzeke, {{ill|Sint-Anna|nl|Sint-Anna (Hamme)}} and {{ill|Zogge|nl}}. In 2018, Hamme had a total population of 24,827. The total area is 40.21 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}} The current mayor of Hamme is Herman Vijt, from the CD&V (Christian Democratic) party.

Folklore

Hamme also has its own legends, most famously that of the "Hamse Wuiten". The people of Hamme are also called Hamse Wuitens. The "Hamse wuiten" is also the main mascot in a street parade at the end of March every year. The inhabitants dress up and build big trucks with giant puppets, making fun of local and national politicians and scandals.

Sport

In 1967 Hamme born Ferdinand Bracke was voted Belgian Sportsman of the Year (the first in history to receive this award) and was also awarded the Belgian Sports Merit Award "'Nina Derwael heeft de brains, de looks en de wilskracht': jury Nationale Trofee voor Sportverdienste vol lof over 18-jarige gymnaste". hln.be (in Dutch). 8 November 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2018. "Nationale Trofee voor Sportverdienste

The 6th stage of the X²O Badkamers Trophy 2023–24 UCI Cyclo-cross season was held at Hamme on 27 January 2024. Fem Van Empel took 1st place.

{{cite web | url=https://cyclocross24.com/race/16124/ | title=Results X2O Trofee Hamme - Flandriencross 2024 - Women Elite }}

Transport

Hamme is located near the N41 road and E17, providing quick access to nearby cities Dendermonde and Sint Maarten, but also some more distant locations such as Antwerp and Ghent.{{Cite web |last=Times |first=The Brussels |title=50th anniversary of the E17 motorway celebrated in new exhibition |url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/667717/50th-anniversary-of-the-e17-motorway-celebrated-in-new-exhibition |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=www.brusselstimes.com |language=en}}