Damme
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Damme is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders, six kilometres northeast of Brugge (Bruges). The municipality comprises the city of Damme proper and the towns of Hoeke, Lapscheure, Moerkerke, Oostkerke and Sijsele. On 1 January 2006 the municipality had a population of 10,899. The total area is 89.52 km², giving a population density of 122 inhabitants per km².
In the 13th century Damme was the port for Bruges, to which it is linked by the long, straight, treelined and picturesque Damse Vaart, which continues across the Dutch border to Sluis and the Zwin. The line of the town's star-shaped fortifications can still be traced by lines of tall poplar trees and in places by a moat. It was the site of the Battle of Damme, fought on 30 and 31 May 1213.
Today it is a popular venue for eating out, and a destination for boat trips. Damme is since a few years also known as a book town, with numerous bookshops and regular book fairs.
Famous inhabitants were Jacob van Maerlant, medieval poet, the town clerk of Damme until his death in around 1300, and Karel Verleye, co-founder of the Bruges College of Europe, who died in Damme in 2002.
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Municipalities in the Province of West Flanders, Flanders, Belgium |
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| Bruges: Beernem | Blankenberge | Bruges/Brugge | Damme | Jabbeke | Knokke-Heist | Oostkamp | Torhout | Zedelgem | Zuienkerke | ||
| Diksmuide: Diksmuide | Houthulst | Koekelare | Kortemark | Lo-Reninge | ||
| Kortrijk: Anzegem | Avelgem | Deerlijk | Harelbeke | Kortrijk/Courtrai | Kuurne | Lendelede | Menen | Spiere-Helkijn | Waregem | Wevelgem | Zwevegem | ||
| Ostend: Bredene | De Haan | Gistel | Ichtegem | Middelkerke | Oostende/Ostend | Oudenburg | ||
| Roeselare: Hooglede | Ingelmunster | Izegem | Ledegem | Lichtervelde | Moorslede | Roeselare | Staden | ||
| Tielt: Ardooie | Dentergem | Meulebeke | Oostrozebeke | Pittem | Ruiselede | Tielt | Wielsbeke | Wingene | ||
| Veurne: Alveringem | De Panne | Koksijde | Nieuwpoort | Veurne | ||
| Ypres: Heuvelland | Ieper/Ypres | Langemark-Poelkapelle | Mesen | Poperinge | Vleteren | Wervik | Zonnebeke | ||
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