Lede

Lede
Lede
; Flag	; Coat of arms
Location of Lede in East Flanders
Sovereign state	Belgium
Region	Flemish Region
Community	Flemish Community
Province	East Flanders
Arrondissement	Aalst
Coordinates	50°58′0″N 03°59′0″E / 50.96667°N 3.98333°ECoordinates: 50°58′0″N 03°59′0″E / 50.96667°N 3.98333°E
Area	29.69 km²
Population; – Males; – Females; - Density	17,068 (1 January 2006); 49.23%; 50.77%; 575 inhab./km²
Unemployment rate	6.43% (1 January 2006)
Mean annual income	€13,607/pers. (2003)
Mayor	Geert Grepdon (VLD)
Governing parties	VLD, CD&V
Postal codes	9340
Area codes	053, 09
Website	www.lede.be

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This article is about the Belgian municipality. For a definition of the word "lede", see wikt:lede. For the use of the term in journalism, see lede (news).

Lede is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Impe, Lede proper, Oordegem, Smetlede, Wanzele and Papegem. On January 1, 2006 Lede had a total population of 17,068. The total area is 29.69 km² which gives a population density of 575 inhabitants per km². The current mayor of Lede is Geert Grepdon, from the VLD (Liberal) party.

Lede is known for a specific statue of St-Mary, "Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-van-Zeven-Smarten" (Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows), to which a local myth attributes magical powers, making Lede into a local pilgrimage destination. The statue is taken around in a procession during a Sunday in June, after the biannual nine-day festival. The local church, built in 1496, houses the statue. The abandoned Castle of Mesen is situated in central Lede. It is scheduled to be destroyed in 2007.