Arrondissement of Ghent

Arrondissement of Ghent
Arrondissement Gent
Arrondissement

Location of the arrondissement in East-Flanders
Coordinates: 51°03′N 3°42′E / 51.05°N 3.7°E / 51.05; 3.7Coordinates: 51°03′N 3°42′E / 51.05°N 3.7°E / 51.05; 3.7
Country  Belgium
Region  Flemish Region
Province  East Flanders
Municipalities 21
Area
 • Total 943.62 km2 (364.33 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2017)
 • Total 553,961
 • Density 590/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)

The Arrondissement of Ghent (Dutch: Arrondissement Gent; French: Arrondissement de Gand) is the largest of the six administrative arrondissements in the Province of East Flanders, Belgium. It is both an administrative and a judicial arrondissement. However, the Judicial Arrondissement of Ghent also comprises the municipalities of the Arrondissement of Eeklo.

History

The Arrondissement of Ghent was created in 1800 as the first arrondissement in the Department of Escaut (Dutch: Departement Schelde). It originally comprised the cantons of Deinze, Eeklo, Evergem, Ghent, Kruishoutem, Lochristi, Nazareth, Nevele, Oosterzele, Waarschoot and Zomergem. In 1803, the canton of Eeklo was merged with the Arrondissement of Sas-van-Gent to form the Arrondissement of Eeklo. The canton of Kruishoutem was ceded to the Arrondissement of Oudenaarde in 1818.

In 1921, parts of Laarne and Kalken (in the Arrondissement of Dendermonde) were added to the arrondissement to form the new municipality of Beervelde. Parts of Kluizen, Ertvelde en Zelzate were added to the arrondissement in 1927 from the Arrondissement of Eeklo. In 1977, the municipality of Ertvelde (of which Kluizen had been a part since 1965) in the Arrondissement of Eeklo ceased to exist and was merged into Evergem. As a result, it was added to the Arrondissement of Ghent.

Per 1 January 2019, the municipalities of Aalter and Knesselare will be merged into Aalter, Deinze and Nevele into Deinze, and Waarschoot, Lovendegem and Zomergem into Lievegem. The number of municipalities in this arrondissement will thus be reduced from 21 to 17.

Municipalities

The Administrative Arrondissement of Ghent consists of the following municipalities:


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