The commune of Zelzate, population 12,000, lies on the Dutch border, north of
Gent. The E34 roadway passes through from east to west.
"Zelzate" translates as "salt city", a reference to the practice in the middle ages of harvesting and burning salt peat to produce salt which would ultimately be used to preserve food, especially fish. The primary employer in modern Zelzate is the steel industry.