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You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Dutch. (June 2021) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
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West Flanders
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Coordinates: 51°00′N 03°00′E / 51.000°N 3.000°E | |
Country | Belgium |
Region | Flanders |
Capital (and largest city) | Bruges |
Government | |
• Governor | Carl Decaluwé |
Area | |
• Total | 3,197 km2 (1,234 sq mi) |
Population (1 January 2024[2]) | |
• Total | 1,226,375 |
• Density | 380/km2 (990/sq mi) |
GDP | |
• Total | €52.323 billion (2021) |
ISO 3166 code | BE-VWV |
HDI (2021) | 0.940[4] very high · 5th of 11 |
Website | www |
West Flanders (Dutch: West-Vlaanderen [ˌʋɛst ˈflaːndərə(n)] ⓘ;[a] West Flemish: West-Vloandern [βæst ˈflɒːndərn̩]; French: Flandre-Occidentale [flɑ̃dʁ ɔksidɑ̃tal]; German: Westflandern [ˈvɛstˌflandɐn] ⓘ) 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 3,197 km2 (1,234 sq mi) 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.[5]
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.
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