Editing Merchtem

{{Infobox Belgium municipality
|name             = Merchtem
|picture          = 
|picture-legend   = 
|map              = Merchtem Flemish-Brabant Belgium Map.svg
|map-legend       = Location of Merchtem in Flemish Brabant
|arms             = Blason Merchtem.svg
|flag             = Merchtem vlag.svg
|arrondissement   = [[Halle-Vilvoorde administrative Arrondissement|Halle-Vilvoorde]]
|nis              = 23052
|pyramid-date=
|0-19=
|20-64=
|65=
|foreigners=
|foreigners-date=
|mayor            = Maarten Mast (Lijst1785)
|majority         = Lijst1785, [[Christian Democratic and Flemish|CD&V]] PLUS
|postal-codes     = 1785
|telephone-area   = 052, 02
|web              = [http://www.merchtem.be/ www.merchtem.be]
|coordinates      = {{coord|50|58|N|04|14|E|region:BE|display=inline,title}}
}}
'''Merchtem''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈmɛr(ə)xtɛm|pron}}) is a [[Municipalities of Belgium|municipality]] located in the [[Belgium|Belgian]] province of [[Flemish Brabant]]. The municipality comprises the villages of [[Brussegem]] and [[Hamme (Merchtem)|Hamme]], the hamlets of [[Ossel]] and [[Peizegem]], and Merchtem proper. On July 9, 2009, Merchtem had a total population of 15,298.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.merchtem.be/bd111xrcf924kinb0b15.aspx|title=Merchtem: bevolkingsaantal op 9 juli 2009|publisher=merchtem.be|accessdate=2009-08-07|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610170058/http://www.merchtem.be/bd111xrcf924kinb0b15.aspx|archivedate=2011-06-10}}</ref> The total area is 36.72 km<sup>2</sup> which gives a [[population density]] of 416 inhabitants per km<sup>2</sup>.

== Folklore ==

Merchtem is known for 'de [[steltenlopers]]', people walking on [[stilts]] (up to several meters above ground). Langevelde, a part of the municipality, was frequently flooded after heavy rain. In order to reach the centre, people were using sticks to walk.
After an internal struggle, the group split up in two parts, 'stichting Langevelde' and 'stichting Jan Vaderhasselt'.

==Language controversy==
On August 28, 2006 mayor [[Eddie de Block]] introduced a ban on speaking [[French language|French]] in the town's schools. Mayor de Block said that the measure did not violate [[human rights]] and that it would help [[Social integration|integration]]. A previous ban on signs in languages different from [[Dutch language|Dutch]] in the town's markets had been overturned by [[Flemish people|Flemish]] [[Interior Minister]] [[Marino Keulen]].<ref>{{cite news | title=Belgian town bans school French | work=BBC News | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5305484.stm | date=September 1, 2006 | accessdate=2006-09-01}}</ref>

==Places of interest==
<gallery>
File:Parochiekerk Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Kerkstraat Merchtem Belgium.jpg|Onze-Lieve-Vrouw church
File:Merchtemsteltenlopers.jpg|Steltenlopers
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
*[http://www.merchtem.be Official website] {{in lang|nl}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre = Merchtem
|NE = [[Londerzeel]]
|E  = [[Meise]]
|SE = [[Wemmel]]
|S  = [[Asse]]
|W  = [[Opwijk]]
|NW = [[Buggenhout]] ([[East Flanders|VOV]])
}}
{{Municipalities in Flemish Brabant}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Municipalities of Flemish Brabant]]