Kaprijke

Municipality in Flemish Community, Belgium

Flag

Coat of arms

Location of Kaprijke

Kaprijke

Location in Belgium

Location of Kaprijke in East Flanders

Coordinates: 51°13′N 03°36′E / 51.217°N 3.600°E / 51.217; 3.600Country

BelgiumCommunityFlemish CommunityRegionFlemish RegionProvinceEast FlandersArrondissementEekloGovernment

• MayorPieter Claeys • Governing party/iesCD&V-NVA-Groen-OnafhArea

• Total33.64 km² (12.99 sq mi)Population

(2018-01-01)^[1]

• Total6,429 • Density190/km² (490/sq mi)Postal codes

9970, 9971

NIS code

43007

Area codes09Websitewww.kaprijke.be

Kaprijke (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈkɑprɛi̯kə]) is a municipality in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Kaprijke proper and Lembeke [nl]. In 2021, Kaprijke had a total population of 6,508.^[2]

History

The name Kaprijke comes from Gallo-Roman name "Capricum" which means "Land of Caprius". It used to be the site of a Roman garrison, which can still be seen at the square in front of the old town hall. Kaprijke received city rights in 1240 by Joan, Countess of Flanders.^[3]

During the 14th and 15th century, the cloth industry flourished in Kaprijke. However, during the period of religious strife during the 16th century, the merchants and cloth makers withdrew to safer locations. Following the resolution of the problems, the merchants and weavers did not return, leading up to the decline of the city of Kaprijke into a rural village during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Kaprijke is known for its beautiful castle built in 1550, Hof ter Kruisen. It was commissioned by Andries of Baviere and finished in 1628.

In 1976, Kaprijke merged with another town called Lembeke, for a total population of around 6,200 people.

Lembeke is the home of Lotus Bakeries.^[4] The Bardelaere Museum is located in Lembeke.

Famous inhabitants

Roger De Vlaeminck, cyclist, amongst other four times winner of Paris–Roubaix
Hippoliet Van Peene (1811–1864), poet and playwright, best known for writing the poem "De Vlaamse Leeuw" which came to be the Flemish anthem.

Gallery

Kaprijke is divided into two towns. 1: Kaprijke proper and 2:Lembeke
Kaprijke, church: parochiekerk Onze Lieve Vrouw Hemelvaart
Lembeke, church: parochiekerk Sint Egidius

References

^ "Wettelijke Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2018". Statbel. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
^ "Bevolking per statistische sector - Sector 43007". Statistics Belgium. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
^ "Kaprijke". Mijn platteland (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 May 2022.
^ "Contact".