Hofstade

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HOFSTADE

Province : Vlaams-Brabant
Incorporated into : 1977 Zemst

Official blazon

Van zilver met dwarsbalk van keel getralied van goud, het schild gehouden door twee sirenen in natuurlijke kleur, die van rechts zich kammend en die van links zich spiegelend, het geheel geplaatst op een zee in natuurlijke kleur.

Origin/meaning

The arms were granted on December 8, 1952.

The arms are derived from the arms of the Van Hofstade family, an important local family in the 12-15^th century. Willem van Hofstade, for example, was mayor of Mechelen in the early 15^th century. The arms are derived from his arms, which showed a similar shield. As a crest he used two sirens. In the arms of the council the sirens were changed into supporters and the whole was placed on a sea, symbolising the local lake.