Brakel's a municipality in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The name's derived from a Carolingian villa Braglo first mentioned in 866 and located in the center of Opbrakel. Since 1970, the municipality has comprised the villages of Nederbrakel, Opbrakel, Michelbeke, Elst, Zegelsem. In 1977 Everbeek, Parike and part of Sint-Maria-Oudenhove were added. On January 1, 2006 Brakel had a population of 13,726. The area's 56.46 km² which gives a population density of 243 per km². The ma… (More on Brakel)