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Koksijde
Koksijde
; Flag	; Coat of arms
Location of Koksijde in West Flanders
	; Koksijde Location in Belgium
Sovereign state	Belgium
Region	Flemish Region
Community	Flemish Community
Province	West Flanders
Arrondissement	Veurne
Coordinates	51°06′0″N 02°39′0″E / 51.1°N 2.65°ECoordinates: 51°06′0″N 02°39′0″E / 51.1°N 2.65°E
Area	43.96 km²
Population; – Males; – Females; – Density	21,269 (2006-01-01); 49.07%; 50.93%; 484 inhab./km²
Unemployment rate	8.27% (1 January 2006)
Mean annual income	€15,323/pers. (2003)
Mayor	Marc Vanden Bussche (LDD)
Governing parties	VLD, STeM-N-VA, sp.a
Postal codes	8670
Area codes	058
Website	www.koksijde.be

Koksijde is a municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders on the North Sea coast, at the southwest side. It comprises the towns of Koksijde proper, Oostduinkerke, St-Idesbald and Wulpen.

Aerial view

[edit] Statistics

On January 1, 2006 Koksijde had a total population of 21,269. The total area is 43.96 km² which gives a population density of 484 inhabitants per km².

The mayor of Koksijde is Marc Vandenbussche since 2000. He is the first mayor for the List Dedecker party in Flanders.

Hoge Blekker, highest dune on the Flemish coast

[edit] Towns

The municipality of Koksijde comprises the "deelgemeenten" Koksijde proper, Oostduinkerke and Wulpen. The old town centre of Koksijde proper is located about two kilometers from the shoreline. Close by the sea, a new tourist centre, Koksijde-bad, has developed. A bit to the east on the territory is the hamlet of Sint-Idesbald. The old town centre of Oostduinkerke is located more than one kilometer from the coastline as well, with Oostduinkerke-bad close to the sea. Over 4 kilometers inland is the rural polder village of Wulpen.

#	Name	Area	Population
I (IV) (V)	Koksijde - Koksijde-Dorp - Koksijde-bad - Sint-Idesbald
II	Oostduinkerke
III	Wulpen

Koksijde borders the following villages and municipalities:

a. Nieuwpoort (city of Nieuwpoort)
b. Ramskapelle (city of Nieuwpoort)
c. Booitshoeke (city of Veurne)
d. Veurne (city of Veurne)
e. Adinkerke (municipality De Panne)
f. De Panne (municipality De Panne)

[edit] Map

Koksijde, deelgemeenten and neighbouring villages. The yellow areas are urban areas.

[edit] Tourism

The museum of the historical Abbey of Ten Duinen is set in a modern building, explaining the religious and cultural importance of this abbey throughout history and showing the daily life of Cistercian monks from the early Middle Ages, beginning in 1107 till the death of the last monk in 1833. The archeological site has been restored, and is open to the public. The attic of the museum contains a remarkable collection of liturgical silver ware.

The British Military Cemetery (1940-1945) bears witness to British sacrifices in the Battle of Dunkirk.

The Paul Delvaux museum in St-Idesbald houses the largest collection of paintings from this Belgian surrealist painter in the world.

[edit] See also

Koksijde Air Base

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Koksijde - Oostduinkerke

Official website - Information available in Dutch and limited information available in French, English and German
Koksijde travel guide from Wikitravel
Koksijde's Cinema official website - (Dutch) (French)
Koksijde Latin Club - Koksijde's yearly salsa festival. (Dutch)