West Flanders (Dutch: West-Vlaanderen) 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). It 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.

Industry

The region 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 WWI battlefields around Ypers.

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. <gallery> Image:Arrondissement Brugge Belgium Map.png|Bruges Image:Arrondissement Diksmuide Belgium Map.png|Diksmuide Image:Arrondissement Oostende Belgium Map.png|Ostend Image:Arrondissement Roeselare Belgium Map.png|Roeselare Image:Arrondissement Tielt Belgium Map.png|Tielt Image:ArrKortrijkLocation.png|Kortrijk Image:Arrondissement Ieper Belgium Map.png|Ypres Image:Arrondissement Veurne Belgium Map.png|Veurne </gallery>

Judicial Arrondissements

The Province of West Flanders is divided into 4 judicial arrondissements. <gallery> 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 </gallery>

Municipalities

Map of the municipalities in West Flanders

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

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