Ouwegem

Ouwegem is a village and deelgemeente in the municipality of Kruisem in the province of East Flanders in Belgium. The village is located on the edge of the Flemish Ardennes and about 17 kilometres south-west of Ghent.The village was first mentioned in 830 as "villa Aldinga-heim", and means "settlement of the people of Aldo ", but artefacts and coins have been recovered in the area from the Roman era. Ouwegem became a village heerlijkheid , however there were other smaller heerlijkheden in the area. The 16th century was characterised by war and disease. 258 families were recorded in 1567, but only 73 remained in 1600. In 1628, the heerlijkheid of Ouwegem was elevated to barony. In the 18th century, Ouwegem became a linen manufacturer, and changed to lace in the 19th century. From 1960s, the village started to become a commuter's settlement.

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