View source for Aaigem

{{More citations needed|date=August 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Aaigem
| official_name =
| settlement_type = [[Village]]
| image_skyline = Aaigem_Bambrugge_Burst_Erondegem_Erpe_Mere_Ottergem_Vlekkem.png
| imagesize =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Localisation of Aaigem in Erpe-Mere
| flag_alt                =
| image_seal              =
| seal_alt                =
| image_shield            =Blason ville be Aaigem.svg
| shield_alt              = The coat of arms of Aaigem
| image_map = Ligging van Aaigem in Oost-Vlaanderen.png
| mapsize =
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Localisation of Aaigem in the community of Erpe-Mere in the arrondissement of Aalst in the province of East-Flanders.
| subdivision_type  = Country
| subdivision_name  = [[Belgium]]
| subdivision_type1 = Region
| subdivision_name1 = [[File:Flag of Flanders.svg|22px]] [[Flemish Region|Flanders]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Provinces of Belgium|Province]]
| subdivision_name2 = {{Belgian province OVLA}}
| subdivision_type3 = [[Arrondissements of Belgium#Administrative|Arrondissement]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Arrondissement of Aalst|Aalst]]
| subdivision_type4       = [[Municipalities of Belgium|Municipality]]
| subdivision_name4       = [[File:Erpe-Mere Vlag.gif|25px]] [[Erpe-Mere]]
| coordinates       =
| elevation_m = 0
| area_total_km2 = 7.32
| population_note = Source: [[Nationaal Instituut voor de Statistiek|NIS]]
| population_as_of = 2006
| population_total = 2098
| population_density_km2 = auto
| postal_code_type = [[Postal code]]
| postal_code = 9420
| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbering plan|Area code]]
| area_code =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
'''Aaigem''' is a village belonging to the municipality of [[Erpe-Mere]]. It is located in the province of [[East Flanders]], [[Belgium]]. The village has some 2000 inhabitants. Aaigem was an independent municipality with an area of 7.32 square kilometers till 1976.
== Geography ==
Aaigem is located north of the [[Flemish Ardennes]], a hilly region, and is also a part of the [[Denderstreek]]. The village is situated on the north of the valley of [[Molenbeek-Ter Erpenbeek]], a brook passing south of the village centre. Since the valley is characterized by low wet land, construction development is rather limited there.
The village centre of Aaigem is situated about 53 meters above sea level, with the Molenbeek brook being about 30 meters above sea level. The highest point within Aaigem is 77.8 meters above sea level, and is located in Opaaigem. It is also the highest point of the municipality of Erpe-Mere. The lowest point is 27 meters, and is located at the bottom of the Gotegemberg Hill. As such, the maximum height interval is 50 meters.
There is a 205 hectare nature reserve called [[Den Dotter]] in the sub-municipalities of Aaigem (municipality [[Erpe-Mere]]) and [[Heldergem]] (municipality [[Haaltert]]).
== Name ==
Etymologically, [[Flemish dialects|Flemish]] [[toponym]]s ending with –''gem'' refer to a [[Germanic languages|Germanic]] compound of –''haim'', meaning 'home' or 'residence', and a derivative ending –''inga''. The first part of the name "Aaigem" is commonly assigned to the Germanic name of ''Ago'', a currently unknown person. In its totality, the compound ''Agingahaim'' meant 'residence of the followers or tribal members of Ago'. ''Gem''-toponyms are typical for the period of [[Franks|Frankish]] settlement during the [[Merovingian]] era, though nothing is known about the village of Aaigem at that time, with the earliest records about the Aaigem dating back to the 11th century.
== History ==
The territory of Aaigem might have belonged to the [[Abbey]] of Saint Peter or the Abbey of Saint Bavo in [[Ghent]] before the forays of the [[Norsemen]]. From around 1100, the church of Aaigem was property of the [[Anchin Abbey]] (in [[Pecquencourt]], near [[Douai]] in northern [[France]]). This abbey held much of the land in Aaigem till the [[French Revolution]]. Agriculture remained the main source of income throughout the 20th century. However, some industrial activity, such as water mill operation, have taken place. The limited rural industry that came into existence in the 19th and 20th century, such as a number of local dairy farms, have not survived.
In the [[feudalism|feudal period]] Aaigem belonged to the Land of [[Aalst, Belgium|Aalst]], and within this area, it was part of the Land of [[Haaltert]], later also called Land of [[Rotselaar]], in reference to the Lords of Rotselaar, who remained liege of this fief for generations.{{When|date=August 2011}}
== Landmarks ==
Aaigem is one of the few villages in Flanders with a preserved Frankish [[village green]] ({{langx|nl|dries}}), located about 1 kilometer east from the present village center.
=== Mills ===
Three water mills have been preserved. All of them are located on the Molenbeek Brook, and are called, the Engelsmolen, the Ratmolen and the Zwingelmolen. The oldest records of the Engelsmolen and the Ratmolen date back to the 16th century, but the current buildings date from the 19th century. In 1870, a steam engine was installed in the ''Engelsmolen'', but all activity was ceased in 1956. The Zwingelmolen has been converted into a house.
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
!Name(s) || Address || Type || Protected || Info
|-
|Engelsmolen <br /> Molen te Dalhem <br /> Molen te Dalme  || Engelsmolen 1 || Overshot watermill || [[File:Monumentenschildje blauw wit.svg|18px|link=]] Yes || It was originally a wheat mill, oil mill and a flax attrition mill <br /> Later on only wheat mill
|-
|Ratmolen <br /> Waterrat || Ratmolenstraat 42 || Overshot watermill || [[File:Monumentenschildje blauw wit.svg|18px|link=]] Yes || It was originally a wheat mill and an oil mill <br /> Later on only wheat mill
|-
|Zwingelmolen || Aaigembergstraat 10 || Overshot watermill ||[[File:Foutief.png|18px|link=]] No || It was originally a flax attrition mill <br /> Later on it became a chicory mill <br /> The mill wheel has been removed <br /> Now renovated as a house
|-
|}
<Gallery>
File:Engelsmolen Aaigem.JPG|Engelsmolen at Aaigem
File:Engelsmolen Aaigem rad.JPG|Mill wheel of the Engelsmolen at Aaigem
File:Ratmolen Aaigem.JPG|Ratmolen at Aaigem
File:Ratmolen Aaigem rad.JPG|Mill wheel of the Ratmolen at Aaigem
File:Zwingelmolen Aaigem.jpg|Zwingelmolen at Aaigem
File:Zwingelmolen Aaigem beek.JPG|Place where the mill wheel of the Zwingelmolen was at Aaigem
</gallery>
[[File:AaigemKerk2.JPG|right|thumb|250px|Saint-Nicolas Church]]
=== Church ===
Most of the Saint-Nicolas Church (in full: Saint-Nicolas- and Saint-Leonard Church) was built in 1786, and replaced a smaller [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] church, of which only the tower of ca. 1300 remains, at the back of the current church building. This tower was the crossing tower of the old church. Traces of the roof, of the side aisles and of the choir are still visible on the tower. The 18th century construction is [[Neoclassical architecture|neoclassical]], and built according to the plans of architect F. [[Drieghe]], who was also responsible for the construction of the Saint-Christopher Church in [[Evergem]].
== Sport ==
The football club SK Aaigem plays in Aaigem, and is active in the third provincial league of the province of East Flanders.
==Demographic development==
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{{Clear|left}}
*<small>Sources:Belgian National Institute for Statistics (NIS) and the municipality of Erpe-Mere - Remark:1806 till 1970= census on 31 December; 1976= number of inhabitants on 31 December; 2001 and 2006=number of inhabitants on 1 January</small>
<Gallery>
File:Aaigem bebouwde kom.jpg|[[Town sign]]: the speed limit of 50&nbsp;km/h in Aaigem
File:Aaigem einde bebouwde kom.jpg|Town sign: no speed limit of 50&nbsp;km/h any more in Aaigem
</gallery>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120927093148/http://www.reocities.com/belgiumtowns/aaigemkerk.html Webpage at Reocities]
{{Sub-municipalities_in Erpe-Mere}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|50.8891|N|3.372|E|display=title}}
[[Category:Sub-municipalities of Erpe-Mere]]
[[Category:Populated places in East Flanders]]
[[Category:Articles which contain graphical timelines]]