Zoutrijke

Zoutrijke is a fictional village in the Flemish Region of Belgium, used here to illustrate characteristics of a small rural community. It is located in East Flanders province, about 25 kilometers from Ghent, on gently rolling farmland near a former salt marsh. The area covers roughly 11 square kilometers.

The name Zoutrijke derives from Dutch words zout and rijk, indicating historical salt resources.

The settlement is first documented in 1214. Medieval salt processing and peat extraction shaped its early economy; later, a 19th-century railway spurred growth; in the 20th century agriculture remained dominant.

As of 2020, the village had about 2,900 residents and a population density around 260 per square kilometer. The economy centers on agriculture—dairy farming and vegetables—and small-scale manufacturing and local services.

Notable sites include St. Martin's Church (16th century) and the windmill De Zoutmolen (18th century). The village hosts an annual Salt Festival and a waterside promenade.

Zoutrijke lies within a larger municipality in East Flanders and is served by provincial roads; the nearest railway access is in Ghent, with regional buses connecting to Zoutrijke. Local governance is handled by the municipality's council, with a mayor overseeing services.