West Flanders - Definition and Overview

West Flanders (Dutch: West-Vlaanderen) is the westernmost province of Flanders and of Belgium. It borders on (clockwise from the North) the Netherlands, the Belgian provinces of East Flanders (Oost-Vlaanderen) and Hainaut (Henegouwen), France and the North Sea. Its capital is Bruges (Brugge). It has a surface area of 3151 km² and is divided into eight administrative districts (arrondissementen) which contain 64 municipalities.

The whole Belgian North Sea coast, an important destination for tourism in Belgium, is in West Flanders. There is a tram line along the whole coast: De Panne - Ostend (Oostende) - Knokke-Heist.

Bruges District:

• Beernem
• Blankenberge
• Brugge/Bruges
• Damme
• Jabbeke
• Knokke-Heist
• Oostkamp
• Torhout
• Zedelgem
• Zuienkerke

Courtrai District:

• Anzegem
• Avelgem
• Kortrijk/Courtrai
• Deerlijk
• Harelbeke
• Kuurne
• Lendelede
• Menen
• Spiere-Helkijn
• Waregem
• Wevelgem
• Zwevegem

Diksmuide District:

• Diksmuide
• Houthulst
• Koekelare
• Kortemark
• Lo-Reninge

Ostend District:

• Bredene
• De Haan
• Gistel
• Ichtegem
• Middelkerke
• Oostende/Ostend
• Oudenburg

Roeselare District:

• Hooglede
• Ingelmunster
• Izegem
• Ledegem
• Lichtervelde
• Moorslede
• Roeselare
• Staden

Tielt District:

• Ardooie
• Dentergem
• Meulebeke
• Oostrozebeke
• Pittem
• Ruiselede
• Tielt
• Wielsbeke
• Wingene

Veurne District:

• Alveringem
• De Panne
• Koksijde
• Nieuwpoort
• Veurne

Ypres District:

• Heuvelland
• Langemark-Poelkapelle
• Mesen
• Poperinge
• Vleteren
• Wervik
• Ieper/Ypres
• Zonnebeke

Alphabetic, map key:

Communities, regions and provinces of Belgium
Communities: French Community of Belgium | Flemish Community in Belgium | German-speaking community of Belgium
Regions and provinces:
Flanders: Antwerp | East Flanders | Flemish Brabant | Limburg | West Flanders
Wallonia: Hainaut | Liège | Luxembourg | Namur | Walloon Brabant
Brussels-Capital Region