What is "lessines"

Lessines (; ) is a Picardy municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. As of the 2006 census, Lessine's total population was 17,848. The total area is 72.29 km² (27.91 square miles) which gives a population density of 247 inhabitants per km².

The municipality consists of the following sub-municipalities: Lessines proper, Ghoy, Bois-de-Lessines (Lessenbos), Oseke (Ogy), Papignies (Papegem), Deux-Acren (Twee-Akren), Wannebeek (Wannebecq), and Ollignies (Woelingen).

It is primarily known as the birthplace of the Surrealist painter René Magritte (1898 – 1967).