Wetteren

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WETTEREN

Province : Oost-Vlaanderen
Additions : 1977 Massemen, Westrem

Official blazon

(1851) D'or, à une Sainte Gertrude abbesse au naturel, accompagnée à dextre du chiffre X et à senestre du chiffre IIII, de sable.
(1985) In goud een Sint-Gertrudis als abdis in natuurlijke kleur, vergezeld rechts van het Romeinse cijfer X en links van het Romeinse cijfer IIII van sabel, op een losse grasgrond.

Origin/meaning

The arms were granted on February 26, 1851 and again on March 5, 1985.

The arms show St. Gertrudis, the local patron saint, and the roman digits X and IIII. The latter are derived from the name of the family Vilain, who acquired the village and estate in 1576. The combination already appeared on the seal of the village from 1785. The Vilain family added in the early 13^th century the addition Van Gent to their name. Later the name Vilain van Gent was replaced by Vilain XIIII. The reason for this change is not known, but there have been many speculations. In any case, in 1437 an Adriaan Vilain XIIII was mentioned as a knight and alderman in the city of Eeklo.