Zonnebeke
| Zonnebeke | |||
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 Zonnebeke
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| Coordinates: 50°52′N 02°59′E / 50.867°N 2.983°E | |||
| Country | Belgium | ||
| Region | Flemish Region | ||
| Community | Flemish Community | ||
| Province | West Flanders | ||
| Arrondissement | Ypres | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Dirk Cardoen (INSPRAAK) | ||
| • Governing party/ies | INSPRAAK, SP.A-Spirit | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 67.57 km2 (26.09 sq mi) | ||
| Population (1 January 2010)[1] | |||
| • Total | 12,192 | ||
| • Density | 180/km2 (470/sq mi) | ||
| Demographics | |||
| • Foreigners | 0.91% (7 January 2006) | ||
| Postal codes | 8980 | ||
| Area codes | 051/057 | ||
| Website | www.zonnebeke.be | ||
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Map of Zonnebeke
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Zonnebeke is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the villages of Beselare, Geluveld, Passendale, Zandvoorde and Zonnebeke proper. On January 1, 2006 Zonnebeke had a total population of 11,758. The total area is 67.57 km² which gives a population density of 174 inhabitants per km².
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[edit] History
The villages of Zonnebeke congregated around a large Augustinian abbey and its associated Benedictine convent in Nonnebosschen. Both were destroyed during the iconoclastic outbreak in 1580. Only the abbey was rebuilt, but was looted during the French occupation the abbey was confiscated. Passendale played a role in the Battle of Westrozebeke in 1382.
Situated in the centre of the Ypres Salient, World War I destroyed the whole area. Left abandoned until the early 1920s, people slowly returned and rebuilt the villages. In 1932, the locals opened a cheese making facility, which to this day is the only source of Passendale cheese.[2]
Another battle during World War II during the Allied advance across Europe, where Passendale was used in a defensive operations by the Nazis, did little damage.
[edit] Present day
Today, Zonnebeke has returned to its long-time balance between agriculture, small business and work in the neighbouring towns. Its major industry is the brickworks in the village of Zonnebeke itself, which extracts the local blue clay.
[edit] Towns
The municipality comprises the villages of Zonnebeke proper, Beselare, Geluveld, Passendale and Zandvoorde. All are "deelgemeentes", meaning they were independent municipalities before the merger in the 1970s.
| # | Name | Area (km²) |
Population (31/12/2006) |
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| I | Zonnebeke | 16,55 | 4.454 |
| II | Beselare | 14,33 | 2.529 |
| III | Geluveld | 7,79 | 1.501 |
| IV | Passendale | 22,22 | 2.953 |
| V | Zandvoorde | 6,68 | 471 |
[edit] Map
The municipality of Zonnebeke borders the following towns and municipalities:
- a. Moorslede (municipality Moorslede) with village Slypskapelle
- b. Dadizele (municipality Moorslede)
- c. Geluwe (municipality Wervik)
- d. Wervik (municipality Wervik) with village Kruiseke
- e. Comines (municipality Comines-Warneton) with village Ten Brielen
- f. Houthem (municipality Comines-Warneton)
- g. Hollebeke (municipality Ieper)
- h. Zillebeke (municipality Ieper)
- i. Ieper (municipality Ieper)
- j. Langemark (municipality Langemark-Poelkapelle)
- k. Poelkapelle (municipality Langemark-Poelkapelle)
- l. Westrozebeke (municipality Staden)
- m. Oostnieuwkerke (municipality Staden)
- n. Roeselare (municipality Roeselare)
[edit] See also
[edit] Gallery
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Memorial Museum Passchendaele, 1917
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Memorial in the Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Official website - Information available in Dutch and limited information available in English, French and German
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