Editing East Flanders

{{Short description|Province of Belgium}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| name               = East Flanders
| translit_lang1     = 
| translit_lang1_type = 
| native_name        = {{native name|nl|Oost-Vlaanderen}}<br/>{{native name|vls|Ôost-Vloandern}}
| native_name_lang   = <!-- ISO 639-2 code e.g. "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} instead -->
| settlement_type    = [[Provinces of Belgium|Province of Belgium]]
| image_flag         = Flag of Oost-Vlaanderen.svg
| flag_size          = 
| image_shield       = Wapen van Oost-Vlaanderen.svg
| shield_size        = 90px
| image_map          = Oost-Vlaanderen in Belgium 2025.png
| coordinates        = {{coord|51|00|N|03|45|E|region:BE|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{BEL}}
| subdivision_type1  = Region
| subdivision_name1  = {{BE-VLG}}
| seat_type          = Capital<br/>{{small|(and largest city)}}
| seat               = [[Ghent]]
| leader_title       = Governor
| leader_name        = [[Carina Van Cauter]]
| area_total_km2     = 3007
| area_footnotes     = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bestat.statbel.fgov.be/bestat/crosstable.xhtml?view=90c1e218-dc4f-4827-824d-9b25abfefe59|title=Be.STAT|website=[[Statistics Belgium]]}}</ref>
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 1,572,002
| population_as_of   = 1 January 2024 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://statbel.fgov.be/nl/themas/bevolking/structuur-van-de-bevolking|title = Structuur van de bevolking |website=[[Statistics Belgium]]}}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = auto
| demographics_type1 = GDP
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web | url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tgs00003/default/table?lang=en | title=EU regions by GDP, Eurostat|access-date=18 September 2023}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = Total
| demographics1_info1 = €62.123 billion (2021)
| blank_name_sec2    = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2021)
| blank_info_sec2    = 0.936<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|title=Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab|url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/BEL/?levels=1%2B4&interpolation=1&extrapolation=0&nearest_real=0&years=2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729165624/https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/BEL/?levels=1%2B4&interpolation=1&extrapolation=0&nearest_real=0&years=2019 |archive-date=2021-07-29 }}</ref><br/>{{color|green|very high}} · [[List of Belgian provinces by Human Development Index|6th of 11]]
| website            = {{URL|http://www.oost-vlaanderen.be/}}
| official_name      = 
| iso_code           = BE-VOV
| image_blank_emblem = East Flanders 2016.svg
| blank_emblem_type  = [[Brandmark]]
| blank_emblem_size  = 120px
}}

'''East Flanders''' ({{langx|nl|Oost-Vlaanderen}} {{IPA|nl|ˌoːst ˈflaːndərə(n)||Nl-Oost-Vlaanderen.ogg}};{{efn|In isolation, ''Vlaanderen'' is pronounced {{IPA|nl|ˈvlaːndərə(n)|}}.}} {{langx|fr|Flandre-Orientale}} {{IPA|fr|flɑ̃dʁ ɔʁjɑ̃tal||Flandre-Orientale-FR.wav}}; {{langx|de|Ostflandern}} {{IPA|de|ˈɔstˌflandɐn|de-Ostflandern.ogg}}; {{langx|vls|Ôost-Vloandern}}) is a [[Provinces of Belgium|province]] of [[Belgium]]. It borders (clockwise from the North) the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] province of [[Zeeland]] and the [[Flemish Region|Flemish]] province of [[Antwerp (province)|Antwerp]], [[Flemish Brabant]], [[Hainaut (province)|Hainaut]] and [[West Flanders]]. It has an area of {{cvt|3007|km²}}, divided into six administrative districts containing 60 municipalities, and a population of over 1.57 million as of January 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://statbel.fgov.be/nl/themas/bevolking/structuur-van-de-bevolking|title = Structuur van de bevolking |website=[[Statistics Belgium]]}}</ref> The capital is [[Ghent]], home to the [[Ghent University]] and the [[Port of Ghent]].

== History ==
During the short-lived [[Napoleonic Empire]], most of the area of the modern province was part of the [[Escaut (department)|Department of Escaut]], named after the [[River Scheldt]]. Following the defeat of [[Napoleon]], the entity was [[Geographical renaming|renamed]] after its geographical location in the eastern part of the historic [[County of Flanders]] (now in the western portion of the current [[Flemish Region]]).

The provincial flag has a black lion with red tongue and claws, on a background of horizontal white and green stripes. This is a recent adaptation; formerly, East Flanders used the [[Flag of Flanders|Flemish flag]], a black lion on a yellow background, as in the current coat of arms. The old flag is still publicly used, e.g. for road signs.

== Geography ==
The province has several geographic or tourist regions:
* [[Denderstreek]]
* [[Meetjesland]]
* [[Waasland]]
* [[Flemish Ardennes]]

Important rivers are the [[Scheldt]] and the [[Leie]] which merge in [[Ghent]]. The [[Dender]] merges into the [[Scheldt]] in the city of [[Dendermonde]].

=== Subdivisions ===
East Flanders is divided into 6 administrative [[Arrondissements of Belgium|arrondissements]] (districts), subdivided into a total of 55 municipalities. In addition, there are 3 judicial and 3 electoral arrondissements.

{| style="vertical-align:top;"
| style="padding-right:40px;background-color:#dddddd;" | '''District'''
| style="padding-right:40px;background-color:#dddddd;" | [[Arrondissement of Ghent|Ghent District]]:
| style="padding-right:40px;background-color:#dddddd;" | [[Arrondissement of Oudenaarde|Oudenaarde District]]:
| style="padding-right:40px;background-color:#dddddd;" | [[Arrondissement of Eeklo|Eeklo District]]:
| style="padding-right:40px;background-color:#dddddd;" | [[Arrondissement of Aalst|Aalst District]]:
| style="padding-right:40px;background-color:#dddddd;" | [[Arrondissement of Dendermonde|Dendermonde District]]:
| style="padding-right:40px;background-color:#dddddd;" | [[Arrondissement of Sint-Niklaas|Sint-Niklaas District]]:
|-
|style="vertical-align:top;padding-right:40px;background:#dddddd;" | Location
| [[File:ArrGentLocation2025.png|100px]]
| [[File:ArrOudenaardeLocatie.png|100px]]
| [[File:ArrEekloLocation.png|100px]]
| [[File:ArrAalstLocation.png|100px]]
| [[File:ArrDendermondeLocatie.png|100px]]
| [[File:ArrSint-NiklaasLocation2025.png|100px]]
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;background:#dddddd;" |
'''[[Hierarchical administrative subdivision codes|HASC]]'''
<br> '''[[Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics|NUTS]]'''
<br> '''[[Statistics Belgium|NIS]]'''
<br> '''Population'''
<br> '''Area'''
| style="vertical-align:top;background:#ddffff;" |
BE.OV.GT
<br>BE234 
<br>44 
<br>{{formatnum:{{Metadata Population BE|44000}}}}
<br>944&nbsp;km²
| style="vertical-align:top;background:#eeeeee;" |
BE.OV.OD 
<br>BE235 
<br>45
<br>{{formatnum:{{Metadata Population BE|45000}}}}
<br>419&nbsp;km²
| style="vertical-align:top;background:#ddffff;" |
BE.OV.EK 
<br>BE233 
<br>43 
<br>{{formatnum:{{Metadata Population BE|43000}}}}
<br>334&nbsp;km²
| style="vertical-align:top;background:#eeeeee;" |
BE.OV.AL 
<br>BE231 
<br>41
<br>{{formatnum:{{Metadata Population BE|41000}}}}
<br>469&nbsp;km²
| style="vertical-align:top;background:#ddffff;" |
BE.OV.DM 
<br>BE232 
<br>42 
<br>{{formatnum:{{Metadata Population BE|42000}}}}
<br>343&nbsp;km²
| style="vertical-align:top;background:#eeeeee;" |
BE.OV.SN 
<br>BE236 
<br>46
<br>{{formatnum:{{Metadata Population BE|46000}}}}
<br>475&nbsp;km²
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;background:#dddddd;" | Municipalities
| style="vertical-align:top;background:#ddffff;" |
* [[Aalter]]
* [[Deinze]]
* [[Destelbergen]]
* [[Evergem]]
* [[Gavere]]
* [[Ghent]]
* [[Lievegem]]
* [[Lochristi]]
* [[Merelbeke-Melle]]
* [[Nazareth-De Pinte]]
* [[Oosterzele]]
* [[Sint-Martens-Latem|Sint-Martens-<br>Latem]]
* [[Zulte]]
| style="vertical-align:top;background:#eeeeee" |
* [[Brakel, Belgium|Brakel]]
* [[Horebeke]]
* [[Kluisbergen]]
* [[Kruisem]]
* [[Lierde]]
* [[Maarkedal]]
* [[Oudenaarde]]
* [[Ronse]]
* [[Wortegem-Petegem|Wortegem-<br>Petegem]]
* [[Zwalm]]
| style="vertical-align:top;background:#ddffff;" |
* [[Assenede]]
* [[Eeklo]]
* [[Kaprijke]]
* [[Maldegem]]
* [[Sint-Laureins]]
* [[Zelzate]]
| style="vertical-align:top;background:#eeeeee;" |
* [[Aalst, Belgium|Aalst]]
* [[Denderleeuw]]
* [[Erpe-Mere]]
* [[Geraardsbergen]]
* [[Haaltert]]
* [[Herzele]]
* [[Lede, Belgium|Lede]]
* [[Ninove]]
* [[Sint-Lievens-Houtem|Sint-Lievens-<br>Houtem]]
* [[Zottegem]]
| style="vertical-align:top;background:#ddffff" |
* [[Berlare]]
* [[Buggenhout]]
* [[Dendermonde]]
* [[Hamme, Belgium|Hamme]]
* [[Laarne]]
* [[Lebbeke]]
* [[Waasmunster]]
* [[Wetteren]]
* [[Wichelen]]
* [[Zele]]
| style="vertical-align:top;background:#eeeeee;" |
* [[Beveren-Kruibeke-Zwijndrecht]]
* [[Lokeren]]
* [[Sint-Gillis-Waas|Sint-Gillis-<br>Waas]]
* [[Sint-Niklaas]]
* [[Stekene]]
* [[Temse]]
|}

== Demographics ==
The province has a population of almost 1.5 million. It had 734,000 inhabitants in 1830, when it was the most populated province of Belgium, and about a million in 1900. Population growth halted around the 1980s, but has increased again in the 21st century. Population figures in recent years is as follows:

{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Population
|-
| 1 January 1990 || 1,331,608
|-
| 1 January 1995 || 1,349,382
|-
| 1 January 2000 || 1,361,623
|-
| 1 January 2005 || 1,380,072
|-
| 1 January 2010 || 1,432,326
|-
| 1 January 2015 || 1,477,346
|-
| 1 January 2017 || 1,496,187
|}

The capital and biggest city is [[Ghent]], also the second largest city in the [[Flemish Region]]. Other smaller cities are [[Aalst, Belgium|Aalst]], [[Sint-Niklaas]] and [[Dendermonde]] in the east of the province. The eastern part of the province, part of the [[Flemish Diamond]], is more densely populated than the western part.

== Economy ==
The [[Gross domestic product]] (GDP) of the province was 56.4 billion € in 2018. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was 33,000 € or 109% of the EU27 average in the same year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/10474907/1-05032020-AP-EN.pdf/81807e19-e4c8-2e53-c98a-933f5bf30f58|title=Regional GDP per capita ranged from 30% to 263% of the EU average in 2018|website=Eurostat}}</ref>

== Government ==
[[File:Gravensteengent22042008.JPG|thumb|The ''[[Gravensteen]]'' in [[Ghent]], the provincial capital]]
[[File:Geraardsbergen - Oudeberg top 2.jpg|thumb|The ''[[Muur van Geraardsbergen]]'']]
The provincial council (''provincieraad'') consists of 36 members which were last elected in the [[2018 Belgian local elections#Provincial elections|2018 elections]]. Previously it consisted of 72 members. The council currently consists of the following political parties:
* [[N-VA]] (Flemish nationalists): 8 members
* [[CD&V]] (Christian democrats): 7 members
* [[Open VLD]] (liberals): 7 members
* [[sp.a]] (social democrats): 3 members
* [[Vlaams Belang]] (far-right nationalists): 6 members
* [[Groen!|Groen]] (greens): 5 members

Four people chosen by and from the council form the daily government, called the deputation (''deputatie''). The deputation of East Flanders is a coalition of the [[N-VA]], [[CD&V]], and [[Open Vld|Groen]].

The daily government is led by the governor, who is appointed by the [[Flemish Government]]. [[Carina Van Cauter]] ([[Open Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten|VLD]]) has been the governor of East Flanders since 1 September 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Carina Van Cauter, Gouverneur Oost-Vlaanderen |url=https://gouverneuroost-vlaanderen.be/ |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2021-01-25 |website=Carina Van Cauter, Gouverneur Oost-Vlaanderen |language=nl}}</ref>

The province has a yearly budget of approximately 300 million euro.{{cn|date=January 2024}}

=== Governors ===
* 1830: {{Ill|Pierre De Ryckere|nl}}
* 1830–1834: [[Werner de Lamberts-Cortenbach]]
* 1834–1836: [[Charles Vilain XIIII]]
* 1837–1843: [[Louis de Schiervel]]
* 1843–1848: [[Leander Desmaisières]]
* 1848–1871: [[Edouard De Jaegher]] (lib.)
* 1871–1879: [[Emile de T'Serclaes De Wommersom]]
* 1879–1885: [[Léon Verhaeghe de Naeyer]] (lib.)
* 1885–1919: [[Raymond de Kerchove d'Exaerde]]
* 1919–1921: [[Maurice Lippens (governor)|Maurice Lippens]] (lib.)
* 1921–1929: [[André de Kerchove de Denterghem]] (lib.)
* 1929–1935: [[Karel Weyler]] (lib.)
* 1935–1938: [[Jules Ingenbleek]] (lib.)
* 1938–1939: [[Louis Frederiq]] (lib)
* 1939–1954: [[Maurice Van den Boogaerde]]
* 1954–1963: [[Albert Mariën]] (lib.)
* 1963–1984: [[Roger de Kinder]] ([[Socialistische Partij Anders|BSP]])
* 1984–2004: [[Herman Balthazar]] ([[Socialistische Partij Anders|SP.A]])
* 2004-2013: [[André Denys]] ([[Open Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten|VLD]])
* 2013-2018: [[Jan Briers]] (''none; nominated by [[N-VA]]'')
* 2018–present: [[Carina Van Cauter]] ([[Open Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten|VLD]])

'''Timeline''':
<timeline>
ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:12
PlotArea  = top:10 bottom:50 right:100 left:20
AlignBars = late

DateFormat = yyyy
Period     = from:1830 till:2025
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:10 start:1830

Colors     =
  id:liberal   value:rgb(0,0,1)   legend:liberal
  id:catholic  value:rgb(1,0.6,0) legend:catholic
  id:socialist value:rgb(1,0,0)   legend:socialist
  id:none      value:rgb(0.5,0.5,0.5)   legend:none

Legend     = columns:4 left:150 top:25 columnwidth:100

TextData =
  pos:(20,27) textcolor:black fontsize:M
  text:"Political parties:"

BarData =
  barset:PM

PlotData=
  width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till
  barset:PM

 from:1830 till:1830 color:catholic text:"[[Pierre De Ryckere|De Ryckere]]" fontsize:10
 from:1830 till:1834 color:catholic text:"[[Werner de Lamberts-Cortenbach|de Lamberts-Cortenbach]]" fontsize:10
 from:1834 till:1836 color:catholic text:"[[Charles Vilain XIV|Vilain]]" fontsize:10
 from:1837 till:1843 color:catholic text:"[[Louis de Schierve|de Schierve]]" fontsize:10
 from:1843 till:1848 color:catholic text:"[[Leander Desmaisières|Desmaisières]]" fontsize:10
 from:1848 till:1871 color:liberal text:"[[Edouard De Jaegher|De Jaegher]]" fontsize:10
 from:1871 till:1879 color:catholic text:"[[Emile de T'Serclaes De Wommersom|de T'Serclaes De Wommersom]]" fontsize:10
 from:1879 till:1885 color:liberal text:"[[Léon Verhaeghe de Naeyer|Verhaeghe de Naeyer]]" fontsize:10
 from:1885 till:1919 color:catholic text:"[[Raymond de Kerchove d'Exaerde|de Kerchove d'Exaerde]]" fontsize:10
 from:1919 till:1921 color:liberal text:"[[Maurice Lippens (governor)|Lippens]]" fontsize:10
 from:1921 till:1929 color:catholic text:"[[André de Kerchove de Denterghem|de Kerchove De Denterghem]]" fontsize:10
 from:1929 till:1935 color:liberal text:"[[Karel Weyler]]" fontsize:10
 from:1935 till:1938 color:liberal text:"[[Jules Ingenbleek|Ingenbleek]]" fontsize:10
 from:1938 till:1939 color:liberal text:"[[Louis Frederiq|Frederiq]]" fontsize:10
 from:1939 till:1954 color:catholic text:"[[Maurice Van den Boogaerde|Van den Boogaerden]]" fontsize:10
 from:1954 till:1963 color:liberal text:"[[Albert Mariën|Mariën]]" fontsize:10
 from:1963 till:1984 color:socialist text:"[[Roger de Kinder|de Kinder]]" fontsize:10
 from:1984 till:2004 color:socialist text:"[[Herman Balthazar|Balthazar]]" fontsize:10
 from:2004 till:2013 color:liberal text:"[[André Denys|Denys]]" fontsize:10
 from:2013 till:2018 color:none text:"[[Jan Briers|Briers]]" fontsize:10
 from:2018 till:2023 color:liberal text:"[[Carina Van Cauter|Van Cauter]]" fontsize:10
</timeline>


== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commonscat-inline}}
* {{in lang|nl}} {{Official|http://www.oost-vlaanderen.be/ }}

{{Subdivisions of Belgium}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:East Flanders| ]]
[[Category:NUTS 2 statistical regions of the European Union]]
[[Category:Provinces of Flanders]]