WEST-VLAANDEREN - Geography and history
The province of West Flanders lies in the most densely populated area of western Europe with 361.2 inhabitants per km², bordering the North Sea, northern France, Zeeland in the Netherlands and the province of East Flanders.
The region covers an area of 3 134 km². There are 8 districts, the most populated is Courtrai (277 893) and the least populated is Diksmuide (48 036). In 2002, the population of the province counted 1 132 275 inhabitants.
West Flanders is flat, except for a row of dunes along the coast and a hilly area known as the 'Westvlaamse Bergen'.
The province is bounded by the River Schelde and the Leie and Yzer flow through it. A number of canals link the coastal ports of Zeebrugge, Oostende and Nieuwpoort with inland regions.
West Flanders has no mineral deposits other than sand and clay, the latter the source of an important brick and tile industry.
Soil types alternate between sand, clay, sand/loam and loam, enabling a wide variety of agricultural and horticultural crops to be grown.
The province has a diversified urban structure, with Brugge, Kortrijk and Ostende becoming the dominant cities, together with numerous smaller centres of population.
An outward-looking region
West Flanders lies at the crossroads between Great Britain and continental Europe. This location is further enhanced by its proximity to the Channel Tunnel, and the TGV railway junction at Lille in Northern France.
In addition, the ports of Ostende and Zee-brugge continue to play a role in handling passenger and goods transport, and a steady expansion of activity is expected at Zeebrugge.
The industrial fabric is broad-based, with a large number of forward-looking small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), 90% of whose products are for export. Among the region's major assets are the language skills, level of education and work ethic of the workforce. The coast with its tourist industry and the historic cities have long fostered an open attitude to visitors from abroad.
The expansion of the urban centres in West Flanders has gone hand in hand with respect for nature, despite the concentration of population.
There are still some deficiencies to be overcome in the future: the lop-sided pattern of development in the Westhoek and the Ostende area; some structural problems connected with tourism on the coast; undervaluation of the waterways; an insufficient water supply and the problem of succession for certain SMEs.
An open province
West Flanders has three distinct geographical regions, each of which cuts across several districts.
The coastal zone comprises parts of the districts of Bruges, Ostende and Veurne.
80% of economic and industrial activity in West Flanders takes place in the Brugge-Kortrijk district - the eastern half of the province. In addition to the flourishing textile industry (particularly carpet production), metalworking (mechanical and precision engineering) and plastics are prominent. The restaurant sector can boast of an ever-increasing reputation for high-quality cuisine.
The agricultural outpost of the Westhoek used to experience all the disadvantages of an off-centre position. The region has, however, undergone a remarkable revival thanks to government aid over several decades and support from the European Community. Most of the economic revival was due to West Flemish enterprise, with additional input from some foreign firms.
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