Lede is a municipality in the Belgian province of East Flanders, in the Denderstreek near the cities of Gent, Aalst and Dendermonde.In 2011, Lede had a population of 17,882 and area of 29.69 km², a population density of 575 inhabitants per km². The current mayor of Lede is Roland Uyttendaele (CD&V).GeographyThe municipality comprises the sub-municipalities of Impe, Lede proper, Oordegem, Smetlede, Wanzele, and the hamlet of Papegem. All the sub-municipalities and also the hamlet are crossed by the Molenbeek.SandstoneThe Lede Formation (Formatie van Lede; abbreviation: Ld) is a geologic formation in the subsurface of Belgium. The formation is named after Lede. It consists of shallow-marine limestone and sandstone, deposited in the former sea that covered Belgium during the Eocene. The bluestone (for roads) and in particular the yellow-brown calcareous sandstone extracted from quarries in Lede and neighbouring areas, were widely used during the 15th to 18th century as construction material for religious and civil buildings.