Lessines

Lessines Lessen (Dutch)
Municipality
Flag Coat of arms
Lessines Location in Belgium
Location of Lessines in Hainaut
Coordinates: 50°43′N 03°50′E
Country	Belgium
Community	French Community
Region	Wallonia
Province	Hainaut
Arrondissement	Soignies
Government
• Mayor	Jean-Marie Degauque (PS)
• Governing party/ies	PS, Ensemble
Area
• Total	72.29 km2 (27.91 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2013)
• Total	18,377
• Density	250/km2 (660/sq mi)
Postal codes	7860 Lessines 7861 Papignies 7861 Wannebecq 7862 Ogy 7863 Ghoy 7864 Deux-Acren 7866 Bois-de-Lessines 7866 Ollignies
Area codes	068
Website	www.lessines.be

Lessines (Dutch: Lessen) is a Picardy municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. As of the 2006 census, Lessine's total population was 17,848. The total area is 72.29 km² (27.91 square miles) which gives a population density of 247 inhabitants per km².

The municipality consists of the following sub-municipalities: Lessines proper, Ghoy, Bois-de-Lessines (Lessenbos), Oseke (Ogy), Papignies (Papegem), Deux-Acren (Twee-Akren), Wannebeek (Wannebecq), and Ollignies (Woelingen).

It is primarily known as the birthplace of the famed Surrealist painter René Magritte (1898 – 1967).

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  Quarry

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  Porch keystone of the Hôpital Notre-Dame à la Rose ("Hospital of Our Lady with the Rose")

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  "Lessinia Vrbs" from the book "Het steden-Boek" by Joan Blaeu c. ± 1649 (Amsterdam).

External links

• Media related to Lessines at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website (in French)
• One alternative site, with lots of further information on the city (in French, Dutch, English)
• Another alternative site, with lots of further information on the city (in French)