Lovendegem is a municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Lovendegem proper and Vinderhoute. On January 1, 2006, Lovendegem had a total population of 9,358. The total area is 19.48 km² which gives a population density of 480 inhabitants per square kilometer.The name of the town was first recorded as Lovendenghiem in 1150, but there are traces of human settlements back to the Iron Age.The Ghent-Bruges Canal crosses the municipality, with the town of Lovendegem to the north of the canal, and Vinderhoute to the south.Famous inhabitantsMaurice De Waele, cyclist, winner of the Tour de France