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West Flanders
Province of Belgium
Province of Belgium
| Field | Value | |
|---|---|---|
| <!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions --> | name | West Flanders |
| native_name | nl | |
| vls | ||
| settlement_type | Province | |
| image_flag | Flag of West Flanders.svg | |
| image_shield | Wapen van West Vlaanderen.png | |
| image_map | Provincie West-Vlaanderen in Belgium.svg | |
| coordinates | ||
| subdivision_type | Country | |
| subdivision_name | ||
| subdivision_type1 | Region | |
| subdivision_name1 | Flanders | |
| seat_type | Capital | |
| (and largest city) | ||
| seat | Bruges | |
| leader_title | Governor | |
| leader_name | Carl Decaluwé | |
| area_total_km2 | 3197 | |
| area_footnotes | ||
| population_total | 1,226,375 | |
| population_as_of | 1 January 2024 | |
| population_density_km2 | auto | |
| demographics_type1 | GDP | |
| demographics1_footnotes | ||
| demographics1_title1 | Total | |
| demographics1_info1 | €52.323 billion (2021) | |
| blank_name_sec2 | HDI (2021) | |
| blank_info_sec2 | 0.940 | |
| · 5th of 11 | ||
| website | ||
| iso_code | BE-VWV | |
| image_blank_emblem | West Flanders.svg | |
| blank_emblem_type | Brandmark | |
| blank_emblem_size | 120px |
vls (and largest city) · 5th of 11
West Flanders is the westernmost province of the Flemish Region, in Belgium. It is the only coastal Belgian province, facing the North Sea to the northwest. It has land borders with the Dutch province of Zeeland to the northeast, the Flemish province of East Flanders to the east, the Walloon province of Hainaut in the south and the French department of Nord to the west. Its capital is Bruges (Brugge). Other important cities are Kortrijk in the south and Ostend (Oostende) on the coast, Roeselare and Ypres (Ieper). The province has an area of 3197 km² which is divided into eight administrative districts (arrondissementen) containing 64 municipalities. As of January 2024, West Flanders has a population of over 1.22 million.
The North Sea coast of Belgium, an important tourism destination, lies in West Flanders. A tram line runs the length of the coast, from De Panne on the French border to Knokke-Heist on the Dutch border. West Flanders has two seaports, the Port of Zeebrugge and the Port of Ostend.
Geography
West Flanders consists of the North Sea coast, followed by a very flat polder landscape. Only in the south are some small hills, with the Kemmelberg (159 m) being the highest point in the province. The Leie and IJzer are the main rivers. West Flanders is the only Belgian province that borders both France and The Netherlands; it is one of the only two provinces not landlocked, the other being Antwerp Province.
Economy
The Gross domestic product (GDP) of the province was 46.9 billion € in 2018. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was €34,700 or 115% of the EU27 average in the same year.
In the north of the province, most industry is concentrated in and around the cities of Bruges and Ostend. Both cities also have important seaports: the port of Bruges-Zeebrugge and the port of Ostend.
The south is known for its textile industry, with companies such as Beaulieu and Libeco-Lagae. The region around Kortrijk is called the "Dallas of Belgium" for its entrepreneurship.
Tourism
Tourism is also an important industry in West Flanders. Major touristic attractions include the Belgian coast, the historic center of Bruges, the Yser Tower in Diksmuide and Flanders Fields, the World War I battlefields around Ypres.
Language
Main article: West Flemish
A Dutch dialect called West Flemish is spoken here.
Sport
The city of Bruges has two clubs playing at the highest level of football in Belgium (Belgian First Division A), namely Club Brugge and Cercle Brugge.
Other cities with teams playing at the highest level are Kortrijk (KV Kortrijk), Ostend (KV Oostende) and Waregem (Zulte Waregem).
The teams Knack Randstad Roeselare and Prefaxis Menen play in the highest volleyball league. Knack Randstad Roeselare also plays in the CEV Champions League, the European Championsleague.
BC Oostende is a basketball team which plays in the major basketball league of Belgium.
List of governors
Main article: Governor of West Flanders
- 1830–1831 : Felix de Muelenaere (Catholic Party)
- 1832–1834 : Felix de Muelenaere (Catholic Party)
- 1836–1849 : Felix de Muelenaere (Catholic Party)
- 1849–1857 : Adolphe de Vrière (Liberal)
- 1857–1877 : Benoît Vrambout (Liberal)
- 1877–1878 : Léon Ruzette (Catholic Party)
- 1878–1883 : Theodore Heyvaert (Liberal)
- 1883–1884 : Guillaume De Brouwer (Liberal)
- 1884–1901 : Léon Ruzette (Catholic Party)
- 1901 : Jean-Baptiste de Bethune (Catholic Party)
- 1901–1903 : Charles d'Ursel (Catholic Party)
- 1903–1907 : Jean-Baptiste de Bethune (Catholic Party)
- 1907–1912 : Albéric Ruzette (Catholic Party)
- 1912–1933 : Léon Janssens de Bisthoven
- 1933–1940 : Henri Baels (Catholic Party)
- 1940–1944 : Michel Bulckaert
- 1944–1979 : Pierre van Outryve d'Ydewalle (CVP)
- 1979 : Leo Vanackere (CVP)
- 1979–1997 : Olivier Vanneste (CVP)
- 1997–2012 : Paul Breyne (CVP/CD&V)
- February 2012– : Carl Decaluwé (CD&V)
Subdivisions
Arrondissements
The Province of West Flanders is divided into 8 administrative arrondissements. Image:Arrondissement Brugge Belgium Map.png|Bruges Image:Arrondissement Diksmuide Belgium Map.png|Diksmuide Image:ArrKortrijkLocation.png|Kortrijk Image:Arrondissement Oostende Belgium Map.png|Ostend Image:Arrondissement Roeselare Belgium Map.png|Roeselare Image:Arrondissement Tielt Belgium Map.png|Tielt Image:Arrondissement Veurne Belgium Map.png|Veurne Image:Arrondissement Ieper Belgium Map.png|Ypres
Judicial arrondissements
The Province of West Flanders is divided into 4 judicial arrondissements. Image:Image-Judicial Arrondissement Brugge Belgium Map.png|Bruges Image:Image-Judicial Arrondissement Kortrijk Belgium Map.png|Kortrijk Image:Image-Judicial Arrondissement Veurne Belgium Map.png|Veurne Image:Image-Judicial Arrondissement Ieper Belgium Map.png|Ypres
Municipalities
West Flanders contains 62 municipalities.
Municipalities that have city status have (city) after their names.
Notes
References
References
- "Be.STAT".
- "Structuur van de bevolking | Statbel".
- "EU regions by GDP, Eurostat".
- "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab".
- "Structuur van de bevolking | Statbel".
- "Regional GDP per capita ranged from 30% to 263% of the EU average in 2018".
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