Middelkerke (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈmɪdəlˌkɛrkə]) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders, on the North Sea, west of Ostend. The municipality comprises the villages of Leffinge, Lombardsijde, Mannekensvere, Middelkerke proper, Schore, Sint-Pieters-Kapelle, Slijpe, Westende and Wilskerke. On January 1, 2006, Middelkerke had a total population of 17,841. The total area is 75.65 km2 which gives a population density of 236 inhabitants per km2.
Middelkerke | |
|---|---|
 Middelkerke town hall | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
Location of Middelkerke  | |
  Middelkerke Location in Belgium
Location of Middelkerke in West Flanders  | |
| Coordinates: 51°11′N 02°49′E / 51.183°N 2.817°E | |
| Country |  Belgium |
| Community | Flemish Community |
| Region | Flemish Region |
| Province | West Flanders |
| Arrondissement | Ostend |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Jean-Marie Dedecker (LDD) |
| • Governing party/ies | LDD, CD&V |
| Area | |
• Total | 79.04 km2 (30.52 sq mi) |
| Population (2018-01-01)[1] | |
• Total | 19,371 |
| • Density | 250/km2 (630/sq mi) |
| Postal codes | 8430-8434 |
| NIS code | 35011 |
| Area codes | 059 |
| Website | www.middelkerke.be |
The first reference of 'Middelkerca' is found in 1218. Before 1876 it mainly was a farming settlement.
In 1902, Middelkerke became the world's first municipality to have their drinking water disinfected by continuous chlorination.[2]
Sports
editThe Noordzeecross is a February cyclo-cross race held in Middelkerke, which is part of the Superprestige.
References
edit- ^ "Wettelijke Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2018". Statbel. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
- ^ "Disinfection, Chapter 13". MWH's Water Treatment: Principles and Design (3rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2012. p. 906. doi:10.1002/9781118131473.ch13. ISBN 978-0-470-40539-0.
External links
editMedia related to Middelkerke at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website (in Dutch)