Oostkamp 5.45

Oostkamp is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the villages of Hertsberge, Oostkamp proper, Ruddervoorde and Waardamme. On January 1, 2014, Oostkamp had a total population of 23.016. The total area is 79.65 km² which gives a population density of 289 inhabitants per km².HistoryThe name Oostkamp comes from the Medieval name "Orscamp", meaning place of the horses. The old word ors is a cognate of the English word horse.Oostkamp during World War IIThe Canadian 4th Armoured Division liberated the village on 8 September 1944 (World War II) during the Battle of Moerbrugge. A monument was erected by the Ghent-Bruges Canal to honour the 53 Canadian casualties.Fusion of 1977With the Belgian Unity Law the four villages of Oostkamp proper, Hertsberge, Ruddervoorde and Waardamme became the municipality of Greater Oostkamp.Landmarks and MonumentsChurchesSint Pieters-in-de-Bandenkerk, a hall church with a Romanesque tower (12th century), a late Gothic middle nave, and a baroque organ from 1717.Macieberrot, a Marian grotto from 1914