Blankenberge

This article relates to the Belgian coastal town of Blankenberge. For German towns with the near-homophonous names, see Blankenberg or Blankenburg
Blankenberge
Municipality
Blankenberge beach on a hot summer day

Flag
Coat of arms
Blankenberge
Location in Belgium
Location of Blankenberge in West Flanders
Coordinates: 51°18′N 03°07′E / 51.300°N 3.117°E / 51.300; 3.117Coordinates: 51°18′N 03°07′E / 51.300°N 3.117°E / 51.300; 3.117
Country Belgium
Community Flemish Community
Region Flemish Region
Province West Flanders
Arrondissement Bruges
Government
 • Mayor Ivan De Clerck (Open VLD)
 • Governing party/ies Open VLD, sp.a, N-VA
Area
 • Total 17.41 km2 (6.72 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2017)[1]
 • Total 20,265
 • Density 1,200/km2 (3,000/sq mi)
Postal codes 8370
Area codes 050
Website www.blankenberge.be

Blankenberge ([ˈblɑŋkə(m)bɛrɣə]; West Flemish: Blanknberge) is a town and a municipality in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the town of Blankenberge proper and the settlement of Uitkerke.

On 1 December 2014, Blankenberge had a total population of 19,897. The total area of the municipality is 17.41 km², giving a population density of 1,142 inhabitants per km².

Like most other Flemish coastal towns, a main characteristic of this one is that it is a national and to a certain extent international seaside resort, as even Germans have found their way to the place.

Apart from the sandy beach, there's a structure unique along the Belgian coast: a 350-m long art-deco pier, the Belgium Pier, constructed in 1933.

Famous events

  • Carnival Parade
  • Two Day Marching event, every first weekend of May[2]
  • Klankenberge
  • Flower Parade (Bloemencorso), every last Sunday of August
  • Bel’Lumière

Famous inhabitants

Schools

Blankenberge has schools from both school networks in Belgium. The two secondary schools are:

  • Sint-Jozef – Sint-Pieter Blankenberge (formerly known as Sint-Pieterscollege – Sint-Jozefshandelsschool, subsidized free school)
  • Maerlant-Middenschool • Maerlant Atheneum (GO! Onderwijs van de Vlaamse gemeenschap)

Both schools have numeral different elementary schools organized by the same instances.

Railways

Blankenberge railway station was opened in 1863. Trains operated by NMBS run towards Brussels, and the Kusttram run by De Lijn runs along the Belgian coast of the North Sea.

History

Before the First World War, Blankenberge was an exclusive holiday resort frequently attended by Royalty. HIRH Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife HH Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg as well as his sister HIRH Archduchess Elisabeth Amalie of Austria and her husband HSH Prince Aloys of Liechtenstein and his niece HIRH Archduchess Marie Valerie of Austria were regular holiday makers in Blankenberge. The Archduke enjoyed his walks to Wenduine and daily attended service at the St Rochus church. The Archduke and his wife were planning to travel again to Blankenberge after their last official engagement before the summer holiday at Sarajevo in 1914 where they were killed. After the First World War the Blankenberge police station was bombed by an unknown perpetrator. The blast killed 2 officers and wounded 2 others. After the Second World War it became a popular holiday destination.

Blankenberg (so spelt) also figures in Phineas Finn by Anthony Trollope as the scene of a duel between Finn and another character, Lord Chiltern.

The tenor Enrico Caruso attended Blankenberge for a performance in 1910.

Twin towns

Blankenberge is twinned with:[6]

Since 1994, in August a couple of students from Minamiboso visit Blankenberge and live with families over here. Afterworth students from Blankenberge go and visit Minamiboso for eight days.[7] This is organised by vzw 'Tweedaagse Voettocht van Blankenberge'.

References

  1. ↑ Population per municipality as of 1 January 2017 (XLS; 397 KB)
  2. ↑ "Two-Day Walk". International Two Day Walk.
  3. ↑ Youngs, Kelvin. "Aircrew Remembered Aviation Personal Histories and Databases".
  4. ↑ Manchester, Reading Room. "Casualty Details".
  5. ↑ "rudipillen.be". rudipillen.be. Retrieved 2012-11-04.
  6. ↑ "Embassy of Japan in Belgium - Japan-Belgium Relations". Be.emb-japan.go.jp. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  7. ↑ fonzarelli (2010-08-14). "Blankenberge-Online-Persberichten". Blankenberge-online.be. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
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