Hoeke

Heraldry of the World
Civic heraldry of Belgium - Belgische Gemeentewapens / Armorial de Belgique

HOEKE

Province : West-Vlaanderen
Incorporated into : 1970 Moerkerke (1976 Damme)

Origin/meaning

The arms were granted on April 29, 1845.

The arms are derived from the arms of the Lords of Oostkerke, but the relation between this family and the city of Hoeke is not clear. The oldest seal of the city, known since 1330, shows the local patron saint, St. James. The second known seal of the city dates from the 16^th century and shows a shield with the three crescents. The same arms appear on the map of the Vrije van Brugge (an area around the city of Brugge), also from the 16^th century.

Even though Hoeke nowadays is a small village, it received city rights in the early 13^th century and was a thriving city for some centuries.