Town Hall Oostakker

Oostakkerdorp is a three-site, the history of which may have begun in the early Middle Ages. The area to the northeast of present-day Ghent belonged to the Saint Bavo Abbey. In that area, a number of older settlement cores or villae can be located. Present-day Oostakkerdorp may have been the dry area near the relatively important farm of Puigem. Since the mid-14th century, a Saint Laurentius chapel stood in the square, which was replaced in the 17th century by the Saint Amandus Church, which, however, was heavily bombed in World War I and later rebuilt. Under the ancien régime, the area fell under the alderman’s council of the lordship of the Saint Bavo Abbey of Ghent. Therefore, there was no town hall in the village, and no inn refers to the use of a town hall. In 1800, Oostakker became an independent municipality with Pieter Frans Drubbel as the first mayor and formed part of the department of the Scheldt. Together with Lochristi and Evergem, it formed a cantonal municipal administration. The first municipal council met at the mayor's house, but the same year, the municipal council moved to the inn of master tailor Emmanuel van de Cotte in the Village. Subsequently, there was circulation among the 6 village cafés. In 1846, the administration met in the Jocqué residence, and four years later in a rented private home. Finally, the residence of council member Dr. Charles Devisscher was bought and renovated (1853). Due to its size, it was partly rented out starting in 1873. In 1904, under Mayor Charles Blommaert (1896-1906), it was decided to build a new town hall after a house swap with Bernard Beirens and Sylvain Matthys. The work lasted from 1905 to 1907. The town hall was soon partly rented out due to its size, and this lasted until 1944. Since the construction of the building, few alterations have been made. In 1940, chimneys and the roof were damaged during shelling in the war. In 1964, the adjacent house was rented for the police, and between 1972-75, an extension was made at the rear for municipal services (architect Antoon Bracke). Together with ten other fringe municipalities, Oostakker was merged with the city of Ghent on January 1, 1977, and due to its proximity to the Ghent-Terneuzen canal, it was designated as an industrial area. The old town hall is currently used by the city of Ghent as a service center and police station.

Rudy Wuyts