Heuvelland

Heuvelland

Flag
Coat of arms
Heuvelland
Location in Belgium
Coordinates:
Country Belgium
Region Flemish Region
Community Flemish Community
Province West Flanders
Arrondissement Ypres
Government
 • Mayor Bernard Heens
 • Governing party/ies CD&V
Area
 • Total 94.24 km2 (36.4 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2010)[1]
 • Total 8,125
 • Density 86.2/km2 (223.3/sq mi)
Postal codes 8950-8954, 8956, 8958
Area codes 057
Website www.heuvelland.be

Heuvelland is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Dranouter, Kemmel, De Klijte, Loker, Nieuwkerke, Westouter, Wijtschate and Wulvergem. Heuvelland is a thinly populated rural municipality, located between the small urban centres of Ieper en Poperinge and the metropolitan area of Kortrijk-Lille along the E17. On 1 January 2006 Heuvelland had a total population of 8,217. The total area is 94.24 km² which gives a population density of 87 inhabitants per km². The word "heuvelland" is Dutch for hilly country, as the municipality is characterized by the different hills on its territory.

Contents

Landscape

The municipality is located in an area known as the West-Flemish Hills. The highest hill in Heuvelland is the Kemmelberg (156 m); followed by the Vidaigneberg (136 m), the Rodeberg (129 m), the Scherpenberg (125 m) and a lower hill in Wijtschate (82 m). On the border with France is the Zwarteberg.

Towns

The municipality Heuvelland consists of eight small rural villages. The "deelgemeentes" of Dranouter, Kemmel, Loker, Nieuwkerke, Westouter, Wijtschate and Wulvergem were independent municipalities before the merger in 1977. De Klijte wasn't independent, but was a part of Reningelst (then independent, now part of Poperinge).

Kemmel, Wijtschate, Nieuwkerke and Westouter are the largest centres, with more than 1000 inhabitants each. The town hall and municipal administration are located in Kemmel, as are the police office and post office. The rest home, municipal sports hall and main library are located in Wijtschote. The municipal container park is found in Nieuwkerke. The four other villages are smaller and accommodate less facilities.

Besides the village centres, a number of smaller residential areas are scattered on the territory. On top of the crest of the Rodeberg and Zwarteberg small residential development, mixed with small shops, tourist businesses and restaurants are found. The city centre of Mesen also expands a little on the territory of Wijtschate in Heuvelland.

# Name Area (km²) Population (2001)
I Kemmel 12,99 1.170
II Wijtschate 26,24 2.109
III Wulvergem 3,50 264
IV Nieuwkerke 17,49 1.513
V Dranouter 10,73 703
VI Loker 6,80 572
VII Westouter 11,64 1.422
VIII De Klijte 4,93 576
Source: Ruimtelijk structuurplan Heuvelland

Because of its relative extensiveness, the municipality of Heuvelland borders a large number of villages and towns.:

  • a. Poperinge (city of Poperinge)
  • b. Reningelst (city of Poperinge)
  • c. Dikkebus (city of Ieper)
  • d. Vlamertinge (city of Ieper)
  • e. Voormezele (city of Ieper)
  • f. Hollebeke (city of Ieper)
  • g. Houthem (city of Comines-Warneton)
  • h. Bas-Warneton (city of Comines-Warneton)


Map


Famous inhabitants

References

  1. ^ Population per municipality on 1 January 2010 (XLS; 221 KB)

External links