Kruibeke

Kruibeke
Municipality
Coat of arms
Location of Kruibeke
Country	Belgium
Community	Flemish Community
Region	Flemish Region
Province	East Flanders
Arrondissement	Sint-Niklaas
Government
• Mayor	Antoine Denert
• Governing party/ies	D.E.N.E.R.T.
Area
• Total	33.53 km2 (12.95 sq mi)
Population  (2018-01-01)
• Total	16,657
• Density	500/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Postal codes	9150
NIS code	46013
Area codes	03
Website	www.kruibeke.be

Kruibeke is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Bazel, Kruibeke proper and Rupelmonde. On January 1, 2006 Kruibeke had a total population of 15,216. The total area is 33.42 km² which gives a population density of 455 inhabitants per km².

The oldest secular centre of the area is the feudal castle of Wissekerke at Bazel, which was inhabited by the ancient family Vilain until 1989.

The mayor is Antoine Denert. In March 2003 Denert set up the Department of Tenderness to encourage residents to be nicer to each other. Denert worries that "People don't cuddle any more and that's the reason why there are so many conflicts." and announces: "I will set an example and start in my own village by caressing, cuddling and kissing as many people as possible." To his alderman portfolio of duties, until then Work, Environment and Budget, was officially added Tenderness.

As of August 26, 2004, no other civic governments have adopted this idea.

Famous inhabitants

• Gerardus Mercator, cartographer

Bazel town, Wissekerke Castle

External links

• News item: Belgian mayor sets up Department of Tenderness
• Official website - Only available in Dutch
• Cthe commercial website of Kruibeke - KRUIBEKE.COM