Merchtem

The arms from 1821/1838 The arms from 1925/1989	MERCHTEM Country : Belgium Province : Vlaams-Brabant Additions: 1977 Brussegem 1977Hamme Loading map... {"minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"mappingservice":"leaflet","width":"250px","height":"250px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"zoom":7,"defzoom":14,"layers":["OpenStreetMap"],"image layers":[],"overlays":[],"resizable":false,"fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":true,"cluster":false,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clustermaxradius":80,"clusterspiderfy":true,"geojson":"","clicktarget":"","imageLayers":[],"locations":[{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":50.95779999999999887450030655600130558013916015625,"lon":4.2324000000000001620037437533028423786163330078125,"icon":""}],"imageoverlays":null}

Official blazon
Dutch	(1821) no official description (1838) Wit koleur met dry roode spillen als dwarsstreepen lynregt geplaetst. (1925) In goud een opene en van vier stukken gekanteelde deur van keel, gemetst van de kleur des velds, ter rechter- en linkerzijde verbonden aan eenen voormuur insgeliyks gekanteeld van keel en gemetst van de kleur van het veld en aan den kant van het schild uitgaande; de deur bekroond met eene banier van sabel met een leeuw van goud genageld en getongd van keel, de banier met schacht en franje van goud en fladderend rechts van de schacht. (1989) In goud een uitkomende gekanteelde poort van keel, geopend van het veld, met een aangebouwde gekanteelde weermuur van keel die de schildranden raakt, beide gemetseld van het veld, de poort getopt met een omgewende banier van sabel met stok van goud en beladen met een leeuw van hetzelfde, geklauwd en getongd van keel.
English	blazon wanted

Origin/meaning

The arms were granted on July 11, 1821 and again on May 31, 1838. New arms were granted on January 5, 1925 and confirmed on June 6, 1989.

The new arms are based on the seal of the local council dating from 1336. The arms shows a city wall, with a gate and on the gate a banner with the lion of Brabant. Merchtem had received city rights in 1251 from Duke Henry III, which is symbolised by the arms.

In 1821 and 1838 Merchtem received arms which were probably derives from the arms of the Hobosch van Merchtem family in reversed colours. There is no historical evidence for this, however.

Image gallery

The old arms in the Koffie Hag/Café Hag albums +/- 1930
The new arms in the Koffie Hag/Café Hag albums +/- 1930
The arms on a Roulertas Confiserie label
The arms on a municipal cover (1970s)
The arms on a police badge (source)

Literature: Servais, 1955

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This page is part of the Belgium heraldry portal	Heraldry of the World
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