Bellem is a village and deelgemeente (sub-municipality) in the municipality of Aalter in the Belgian province of East Flanders.

[2][4] Between 1613 and 1623, the Ghent-Bruges Canal [nl] was dug and two forts were constructed by the Spanish near Bellem.

The arrival of the railway and later the motorway E40 did not result in significant growth, and Belem remained a rural agricultural village.

[2][5] Mariahoeve Castle was originally an estate of the Lord of Bellem and Schuurvelde.

In 1808, the domain was bought by the industrialist Jacob Lieven van Caneghem [nl] who rebuilt the castle in 1815.