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Belgische Gemeentewapens - Armories communales de Belgique
Belgian Civic Heraldry

GERAARDSBERGEN

Province : Oost-Vlaanderen
Additions : 1970 Goeferdinge, Nederboelare, Onkerzele, Overboelare 1976 Grimminge, Idegem, Moerbeke, Nieuwenhove, Ophasselt, Schendelbeke, Smeerebbe-Vloerzegem, Viane, Waarbeke, Zandbergen, Zarlardinge

Origin/meaning :
The arms were granted on August 4, 1818 and confirmed on April 19, 1907.
The oldest seal of Geraardsbergen dates from 1244 and shows a mountain with trees and a cross. The mountain probably is canting (berg-mountain). A seal from the late 13th century also shows a mountain with a cross. The combination of the mountain and cross, flanked by a lion and an eagle appeared on a seal from 1287. The eagle is the Imperial eagle, the lion is the lion of Vlaanderen (Flanders). Later the mountain with the cross gradually changed in to the present monument with the cross. The meaning of the cross is not known.

Literature : Servais, 1955


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