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Belgische Gemeentewapens - Armories communales de Belgique
Belgian Civic Heraldry

AALTER

Province : Oost Vlaanderen
Additions : 1976 Bellem, Lotenhulle, Poeke

Origin/meaning :
The arms were granted on May 7, 1985.
The territory of Aalter and Bellem belonged in medieval times to the Estate of de Woestyne. In 1379 the estate was bought by the Count of Vlaanderen (Flanders) and he gave it to his son, the Lord of Praet. The family ruled the estate until 1488, and again in the 18th century.

The local council used a seal with the arms of the Woestyne estate as used by the Praet family, in gold a red cross. On December 18, 1903 this cross, with a silver field instead of a golden field, was granted to the Aalten municipality.


The arms of 1903.

The new arms show in the base a silver cross, which was supposedly the arms of the Lords of Woestyne prior to 1379. The chief shows the lion, taken from the arms of the Lords of Poeke, who owned many possessions in Poeke and Lotenhulle.

Literature : Servais, M. : Armorial des provinces et des communes de Belgique. Liege, 1955, 1041 p; new image and information provided by the municipality of Aalter.


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