East Flanders, Du. Oost-Vlaanderen, Fr. Flandre Orientale, province (1991 pop. 1,335,793), 1,147 sq mi (2,971 sq km), NW Belgium, bordering on the Netherlands in the north. The chief towns are Ghent (the capital), Sint-Niklaas, Aalst, and Oudenaarde. The low-lying province is drained by the Scheldt, Dender, and Leie rivers. It has productive farms and growing industries. Manufactures include textiles, leather, steel, chemicals, and food processing. The population is mostly Dutch-speaking. For the history of East Flanders, see Flanders.