Gistel

Gistel
Municipality
Flag Coat of arms
Gistel Location in Belgium
location within arrondissement Ostend and in the province West Flanders
Coordinates: 51°09′N 02°58′E / 51.150°N 2.967°E / 51.150; 2.967Coordinates: 51°09′N 02°58′E / 51.150°N 2.967°E / 51.150; 2.967
Country	Belgium
Community	Flemish Community
Region	Flemish Region
Province	West Flanders
Arrondissement	Ostend
Government
• Mayor	Bart Halewyck (CD&V)
• Governing party/ies	CD&V, N-VA, sp-a
Area
• Total	42.25 km2 (16.31 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2016)
• Total	11,851
• Density	280/km2 (730/sq mi)
Postal codes	8470
Area codes	059
Website	www.gistel.be

Gistel is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders.

Following local government boundary reforms in 1971 and 1977, the municipality has comprised not only Gistel, but also the towns of Moere, Snaaskerke and Zevekote.

On January 1, 2006 the Gistel municipality had a total registered population of 11,125, of whom more than 8,000 were in Gistel itself. The total area is 42.25 km² which gives a population density of 263 inhabitants per km². The German town of Büdingen is its twin town.

The most famous inhabitant of Gistel was Sylvère Maes, winner of the Tour de France in 1936 and 1939.

Another former resident of Gistel is Johan Museeuw, also famous cyclist, but now retired. He won Paris–Roubaix three times.

In 2011, a museum opened in Gistel, in honor of Maes and Museeuw.

The present mayor, Bart Halewyck, was the first hacker ever convicted in Belgium after the 'Bistel Trial' in 1990. He was already alderman and had to resign after his conviction.

Administration Centre

Church of Our Lady (Onze Lieve Vrouw)

Gistel is the origin of the veneration of Saint Godelieve

Oostmolen windmill in full sail