Schoonaarde

Schoonaarde is a village in the Belgian province of East Flanders and has been a part of the municipality of Dendermonde since 1977. Schoonaarde is located in the Scheldt region and the Dender area by the Scheldt and is connected to Berlare by a bridge. The district has 2,269 inhabitants and covers an area of 563.9 ha.

In the early years of the 15th century, there was already a chapel in Schoonaarde dedicated to Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows. In the middle of the 18th century, a second vicar was appointed in Wichelen, who resided at this chapel. In 1873, Schoonaarde was separated from Wichelen by Royal Decree and became an independent municipality. This was primarily at the urging of the residents of the district of Eegenen, who dreaded the long trips to the main church in Wichelen. Eegenen stands for "eigene," land that was reclaimed from the Scheldt. The "eigene" was a solar fief, a free fief, and owed nothing to anyone. This designation is also found in the names of the municipalities of Eigenbilzen and Eigenbrakel. In Latin, this is Allodium, which can also be found in Braine l'Alleud and in Pays de l'Alleu / Land van Alleuwe.

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