Sint-Niklaas, situated in the province of East Flanders between the rivers Scheldt and Durme, is the center of the Waasland, the agricultural region to the northeast of Ghent. The town has important industrial and trading concerns and is a notable administration center. The largest branch of industry
is textiles (weaving, knitwear and the production of carpets). Metal, wood and tobacco also play a part in its economy.
Sint-Niklaas lies at the crossing of two old trade routes, one led from Brabant to Zeeland, and the other linked Antwerp with Ghent and Bruges. In 1217 the former trading place was raised to an independent parish with St Nicolas as its patron saint. In 1248 Margarete of Constantinople, Duchess of Flanders, gave the area of the present-day market place to the newly formed parish with the instruction that the huge area should be free of building for all time. In the 17th C. Sint- Niklaas grew to be an important center of textile working and extended its position in the following century. In 1804 it was raised to the status of a town under Napoleon I. By reason of its favorable position in the European economic area Sint-Niklaas developed in the 20th C. to one of the most important cities of Belgium.