Middelkerke

Middelkerke
Middelkerke town hall
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 / 51.183; 2.817
CountryBelgium
CommunityFlemish Community
RegionFlemish Region
Province West Flanders
ArrondissementOstend
Government
 • MayorJean-Marie Dedecker (LDD)
 • Governing party/iesLDD, CD&V
Area
 • Total
79.04 km2 (30.52 sq mi)
Population
 (2018-01-01)[1]
 • Total
19,371
 • Density250/km2 (630/sq mi)
Postal codes
8430-8434
NIS code
35011
Area codes059
Websitewww.middelkerke.be

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.

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

The Noordzeecross is a February cyclo-cross race held in Middelkerke, which is part of the Superprestige.

References

  1. ^ "Wettelijke Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2018". Statbel. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  2. ^ "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.