Edegem

Edegem is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the town of Edegem proper. On January 1, 2006 Edegem had a total population of 21,668. The total area is 8.65 km² which gives a population density of 2,504 inhabitants per km². The old Sint-Antoniuskerk church of Saint Anthony is no longer open to the public. It is not sure when it was first built. The absence of heavy industry makes Edegem a typical commuter town. Despite its location next to the metropolis of the city of Antwerp, Edegem is not fully urbanized. In 1173 Edegem was first mentioned in a charter under its old name Buyseghem. The charter in question regulates the transfer of the Buizegemkerkje to a new church lord.

The bishop of Kamerijk , whose diocese belonged to the Edegem area, donated the Saint Gery Church of "Buyseghem" to his chapter . This chapter thus obtained the right to collect tax in the form of "tithes", but was then responsible for the maintenance of the church and the appointment of the pastor . The Buizegem parish and thus Edegem also officially entered history. Due to all kinds of circumstances the church was given up around 1300 for worship and a new life-giving church was born as a parish center in the hamlet of Edegem.