Middelkerke
Municipality in Flemish Community, Belgium
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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
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Middelkerke town hall | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
 Location of Middelkerke in West Flanders | |
 Interactive map of Middelkerke | |
  Middelkerke Location in Belgium | |
| Coordinates: 51°11′N 02°49′E | |
| Country | Belgium |
| Community | Flemish Community |
| Region | Flemish Region |
| Province | West Flanders |
| Arrondissement | Ostend |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Jean-Marie Dedecker (LDD) |
| • Governing parties | LDD, N-VA |
| Area | |
• Total | 79.04 km2 (30.52 sq mi) |
| Population (2018-01-01)[1] | |
• Total | 19,371 |
| • Density | 245.1/km2 (634.8/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]
The mayor of Middelkerke at this moment is Jean-Marie Dedecker.
Sports
The Noordzeecross is a February cyclo-cross race held in Middelkerke, which is part of the Superprestige.
