Heuvelland
Encyclopedia
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.
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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.
s" 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.
Because of its relative extensiveness, the municipality of Heuvelland borders a large number of villages and towns.:
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
located in the Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Dranouter
Dranouter
Dranouter is a village and a deelgemeente in the municipality of Heuvelland in West Flanders, Belgium. Dranouter was an independent municipality before the 1977 local government reforms. Since then, it has been part of the municipality of Heuvelland. The area of the deelgemeente Dranouter is 10.73...
, Kemmel, De Klijte
De Klijte
De Klijte is a village in the municipality of Heuvelland in West Flanders, Belgium. Before the 1977 Belgian municipal reforms, De Klijte was part of the municipality Reningelst. Reningelst proper joined Poperinge, but De Klijte joined the new municipality Heuvelland...
, Loker
Loker
Loker is a small village in the Belgian province of West Flanders, and a part of the municipality of Heuvelland....
, Nieuwkerke, Westouter, Wijtschate and Wulvergem. Heuvelland is a thinly populated rural municipality, located between the small urban centres of Ieper en Poperinge
Poperinge
Poperinge is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders, Flemish Region, and has a history going back to mediaeval times. The municipality comprises the town of Poperinge proper and surrounding villages. The area is famous for its hops and lace.-The town:Poperinge is situated...
and the metropolitan area of Kortrijk
Kortrijk
Kortrijk ; , ; ) is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province West Flanders...
-Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
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
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 87 inhabitants per km². The word "heuvelland" is Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
for hilly country, as the municipality is characterized by the different hills on its territory.
Landscape
Kemmelberg
The Kemmelberg, also known as Kemmel Hill or Mont Kemmel, is a 156m high hill near Kemmel in the municipality of Heuvelland in West Flanders, Belgium....
(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
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
is the Zwarteberg.
Towns
The municipality Heuvelland consists of eight small rural villages. The "deelgemeenteDeelgemeente
A deelgemeente is a subdivision of a gemeente in Belgium and the Netherlands.-Belgium:...
s" of Dranouter
Dranouter
Dranouter is a village and a deelgemeente in the municipality of Heuvelland in West Flanders, Belgium. Dranouter was an independent municipality before the 1977 local government reforms. Since then, it has been part of the municipality of Heuvelland. The area of the deelgemeente Dranouter is 10.73...
, Kemmel, Loker
Loker
Loker is a small village in the Belgian province of West Flanders, and a part of the municipality of Heuvelland....
, Nieuwkerke, Westouter, Wijtschate and Wulvergem were independent municipalities before the merger in 1977. De Klijte
De Klijte
De Klijte is a village in the municipality of Heuvelland in West Flanders, Belgium. Before the 1977 Belgian municipal reforms, De Klijte was part of the municipality Reningelst. Reningelst proper joined Poperinge, but De Klijte joined the new municipality Heuvelland...
wasn't independent, but was a part of Reningelst
Reningelst
Reningelst is a rural village in the Belgian province of West-Flanders, and a "deelgemeente" of the municipality Poperinge. The village has about 1405 inhabitants....
(then independent, now part of Poperinge).
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
Mesen
Mesen is a city located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality only comprises the town of Mesen proper. On January 1, 2006, Mesen had a total population of 988. The total area is 3.58 km² which gives a population density of 276 inhabitants per km².Mesen is the smallest city in...
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 Dranouter Dranouter is a village and a deelgemeente in the municipality of Heuvelland in West Flanders, Belgium. Dranouter was an independent municipality before the 1977 local government reforms. Since then, it has been part of the municipality of Heuvelland. The area of the deelgemeente Dranouter is 10.73... |
10,73 | 703 |
| VI | Loker Loker Loker is a small village in the Belgian province of West Flanders, and a part of the municipality of Heuvelland.... |
6,80 | 572 |
| VII | Westouter | 11,64 | 1.422 |
| VIII | De Klijte De Klijte De Klijte is a village in the municipality of Heuvelland in West Flanders, Belgium. Before the 1977 Belgian municipal reforms, De Klijte was part of the municipality Reningelst. Reningelst proper joined Poperinge, but De Klijte joined the new municipality Heuvelland... |
4,93 | 576 |
- Source: Ruimtelijk structuurplan Heuvelland
Because of its relative extensiveness, the municipality of Heuvelland borders a large number of villages and towns.:
|
|
Warneton -References:*... (city of Comines-Warneton) Mesen Mesen is a city located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality only comprises the town of Mesen proper. On January 1, 2006, Mesen had a total population of 988. The total area is 3.58 km² which gives a population density of 276 inhabitants per km².Mesen is the smallest city in... (city of Mesen) Ploegsteert Ploegsteert is a village in Belgium located in the municipality of Comines-Warneton in the Hainaut province. It is approximately 2 kilometres north of the French border. Created in 1850 on part of the territory of Warneton, it includes the hamlet of Le Bizet.... (city of Comines-Warneton) Nieppe -Points of interests:*A local historic museum*Château de Nieppe - features a treasue legend, its part and a centennial tree*War cemeteries of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission:** Nieppe Communal Cemetery** Pont-D'Achelles Military Cemetery... (France) Bailleul - France :*Bailleul, Nord, in the Nord département*Bailleul, Orne, in the Orne département*Bailleul, Somme, in the Somme département*Bailleul-aux-Cornailles, in the Pas-de-Calais département*Bailleul-la-Vallée, in the Eure département... (France) Saint-Jans-Cappel Saint-Jans-Cappel is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.-Heraldry:-References:*... (France) Boeschepe Boeschepe is a commune in the Nord department in northern France, next to the Belgian border.-Heraldry:-References:*... (France) |
Map
Famous inhabitants
- The cartographer and astronomer Petrus PlanciusPetrus PlanciusPetrus Plancius was a Dutch astronomer, cartographer and clergyman. He was born as Pieter Platevoet in Dranouter, now in Heuvelland, West Flanders. He studied theology in Germany and England...
was born in Dranouter in 1552. - Singer Geike ArnaertGeike ArnaertGeike Arnaert was the lead singer of the Belgian band Hooverphonic from 1997 up to October 2008.Arnaert was born on 13 September 1979, in Heuvelland, Belgium...
of HooverphonicHooverphonicHooverphonic are a Belgian rock/pop group, formed in 1995. Though early on categorized as a trip hop group, they quickly expanded their sound to the point where they could no longer be described as a lone genre, but rather encompass alternative, electronica, electropop, rock, and mixture of others...
was born and raised in Westouter.