Eeklo, 20 kilometers northwest of
Gent, is noted for its renaissance town hall and the Neo-Gothic church of St. Vincent. It is near the Dutch border, on flat rural territory, veined with picturesque small creeks. In July, a major hot air balloon convention takes place, reportedly the largest of its kind in Belgium. The name means "place of the oaks". Eeklo has a population of 19,000 residents. The E34 roadway passes through from east to west.
Adegem is a borough within the municipal district of Eeklo.