West Flanders (Dutch: ) is the westernmost province of the Flemish Region, also named Flanders, in Belgium. It borders (clockwise from the North) on the Netherlands, the Flemish province of East Flanders (Oost-Vlaanderen) and the Walloon province of Hainaut (Henegouwen) in Belgium, on France, and the North Sea. Its capital is Bruges (Brugge). The province has an area of 3,125 km² which is divided into eight administrative districts (arrondissementen) containing 64 municipalities.

The whole Belgian North Sea coast, an important tourism destination, lies in West Flanders. A tram line runs the length of the coast, from De Panne on the French border, via the port of Ostend (Oostende), to Knokke-Heist on the Dutch frontier.

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 province that borders on both France and The Netherlands.

Industry

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 is also an important industry in West Flanders. Major touristic attractions include the Belgian coast, the historic center of Bruges, and Flanders Fields, the World War I battlefields around Ypres.

List of Governors

• 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 (CD&V)
• 1979 : Leo Vanackere (CD&V)
• 1979 - 1997 : Olivier Vanneste (CD&V)
• 1997 - present : Paul Breyne (CD&V)

Arrondissements

The Province of West Flanders is divided into 8 administrative arrondissements.Image:Arrondissement Brugge Belgium Map.png|BrugesImage:Arrondissement Diksmuide Belgium Map.png|DiksmuideImage:Arrondissement Oostende Belgium Map.png|OstendImage:Arrondissement Roeselare Belgium Map.png|RoeselareImage:Arrondissement Tielt Belgium Map.png|TieltImage:ArrKortrijkLocation.png|KortrijkImage:Arrondissement Ieper Belgium Map.png|YpresImage:Arrondissement Veurne Belgium Map.png|Veurne

Judicial Arrondissements

The Province of West Flanders is divided into 4 judicial arrondissements.Image:Image-Judicial Arrondissement Brugge Belgium Map.png|BrugesImage:Image-Judicial Arrondissement Kortrijk Belgium Map.png|KortrijkImage:Image-Judicial Arrondissement Veurne Belgium Map.png|VeurneImage:Image-Judicial Arrondissement Ieper Belgium Map.png|Ypres

Municipalities

Municipalities that have city status have a (city) behind their name.

1. Alveringem

2. Anzegem

3. Ardooie

4. Avelgem

5. Beernem

6. Blankenberge (city)

7. Bredene

8. Bruges (city)

9. Damme (city)

10. De Haan

11. De Panne

12. Deerlijk

13. Dentergem

14. Diksmuide (city)

15. Gistel (city)

16. Harelbeke (city)

17. Heuvelland

18. Hooglede

19. Houthulst

20. Ichtegem

21. Ypres (Ieper) (city)

22. Ingelmunster



23. Izegem (city)

24. Jabbeke

25. Knokke-Heist

26. Koekelare

27. Koksijde

28. Kortemark

29. Kortrijk (city)

30. Kuurne

31. Langemark-Poelkapelle

32. Ledegem

33. Lendelede

34. Lichtervelde

35. Lo-Reninge (city)

36. Menen (city)

37. Mesen (city)

38. Meulebeke

39. Middelkerke

40. Moorslede

41. Nieuwpoort (city)

42. Ostend (city)

43. Oostkamp



44. Oostrozebeke

45. Oudenburg (city)

46. Pittem

47. Poperinge (city)

48. Roeselare (city)

49. Ruiselede

50. Spiere-Helkijn

51. Staden

52. Tielt (city)

53. Torhout (city)

54. Veurne (city)

55. Vleteren

56. Waregem (city)

57. Wervik (city)

58. Wevelgem

59. Wielsbeke

60. Wingene

61. Zedelgem

62. Zonnebeke

63. Zuienkerke

64. Zwevegem

External links

• Official website of the Province of West Flanders