Koksijde

Koksijde
Aerial view
Flag Coat of arms
Koksijde Location in Belgium
Coordinates: 51°06′N 02°39′E
Country	Belgium
Region	Flemish Region
Community	Flemish Community
Province	West Flanders
Arrondissement	Veurne
Government
• Mayor	Marc Vanden Bussche (Open VLD)
• Governing party/ies	VLD, STeM-N-VA, sp.a
Area
• Total	43.96 km2 (16.97 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2010)
• Total	21,832
• Density	500/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Postal codes	8670
Area codes	058
Website	www.koksijde.be
Map of Koksijde

Koksijde (French: Coxyde) 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.

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.

Hoge Blekker, highest dune on the Flemish coast

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)

Map

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

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.

Sport

The annual Duinencross Koksijde cyclo-cross race, part of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, takes place in the municipality. In 1994 and 2012 the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships were held here.

Sister cities

• Albina, Suriname.

See also

• Koksijde Air Base

External links

• 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)