De Panne
| De Panne | ||
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| Municipality of Belgium | ||
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  De Panne | ||
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Map of De Panne
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| Coordinates: 51°06′N 02°35′E / 51.100°N 2.583°ECoordinates: 51°06′N 02°35′E / 51.100°N 2.583°E | ||
| Country | Belgium | |
| Community | Flemish Community | |
| Region | Flemish Region | |
| Province | West Flanders | |
| Arrondissement | Veurne | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Willy Vanheste | |
| • Governing party/ies | VEDA | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 23.90 km2 (9.23 sq mi) | |
| Population (1 January 2012)[1] | ||
| • Total | 10,748 | |
| • Density | 450/km2 (1,200/sq mi) | |
| Postal codes | 8660 | |
| Area codes | 058 | |
| Website | www.depanne.be | |
De Panne is a municipality located along the North Sea coast of the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Adinkerke and De Panne proper. On 1 January 2006 De Panne had a total population of 10,060 living in a total area of 23.90 km² which gives a population density of 421 inhabitants per km². De Panne, which borders France, is the westernmost point in Belgium.
Famous people who lived or died in De Panne include King Albert I and Queen Elizabeth of Belgium (who lived there during World War I), and John Aidan Liddell, VC, who died in De Panne in August 1915. The Belgian royals lived in De Panne during the First World War because it is located in the tiny fraction of their country that was not conquered by the Germans.
De Panne is home to Plopsaland, a themepark aimed at young children and located at the former Meli-Park.
De Panne was also the place where the first land yachts intended for sport were built and used by the Dumont brothers in 1898.
On 17 July 1831, Leopold I, the first Belgian king, sailed to Calais from England, and arrived in Belgium in De Panne. The Leopold I Esplanade, which includes a statue of him, commemorates his arrival.
De Panne Railway Station is located in nearby Adinkerke. There are regular NMBS trains to Brussels. The line across the border to Dunkirk is out of use. Dk' bus run buses from the station forecourt to Gare de Dunkerque. *fr . A cross-border campaign group called Trekhaak-73 is seeking to re-open the railway line.
Belgian Military Cemetery of De Panne
The cemetery is located at Kerkstraat 69 in De Panne, 1 km south of the church.[2] Besides Belgian soldiers who died in WWI there are also British soldiers who died in WWII. 3744 soldiers have been buried here.[3]
References
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to De Panne. |
- Official website - Information available in Dutch and limited information available in French, English and German
- Tourist information + hotel - Information available in Dutch
- Tourist information Apartment Rental - Information available in Dutch and limited information available in English
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