Editing Sint-Niklaas (section)

===Thirteenth-century origins===
Although some traces of pre-Roman activity have been found on the territory of Sint-Niklaas, the regional centre during [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] times was neighbouring [[Waasmunster]], better located on the river Durme. [[Belsele]] was already mentioned in a 9th-century document. The history of Sint-Niklaas proper, however, starts in 1217, when the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Tournai|bishop of Tournai]], following advice from the local clergy, founded a church dedicated to [[Saint Nicholas]] here. The new parish was to depend on the [[See of Tournai]] until the middle of the 16th century. Politically, however, it was part of the [[County of Flanders]]. The power of [[Flanders]] at that time favoured the rapid economic development of the city, which became the administrative centre of the region in 1241. A document dated from 1248 records that [[Margaret II, Countess of Flanders]], ceded additional territory to the parish of Sint-Niklaas with the proviso that it would remain bare, which explains the unusual size of the central market square today.{{clarify|date=March 2017}}