title: Zwevegem
text: # Zwevegem
  
  Zwevegem (Dutch pronunciation: (listen)) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Heestert, Moen, Otegem, Sint-Denijs and Zwevegem. On January 1, 2019, Zwevegem had a total population of 24,648. The total area is 63.24 $km^2$ which gives a population density of 380 inhabitants per $km^2.$
  
  The Bekaert company was founded in Zwevegem by Baron Leon Leander Bekaert.
  
  Heestert Military Cemetery holds the graves of 127 Britons and 57 Germans, most of whom died on 21–25 October 1918 in the area during the First World War.
  
  ## Twin towns
  
  Zwevegem is twinned with:
  
  * Lorsch, Germany
  * Le Coteau, France
  
  ## Notable people
  
  * Léon Antoine Bekaert (1891–1961), businessman
  * Christian Dumolin, businessman
  * Gella Vandecaveye, judoka
  