West Flanders definition of West Flanders in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

West Flanders, Du. West-Vlaanderen, Fr. Flandre Occidentale, province (1991 pop. 1,106,829), W Belgium, bordering on the North Sea in the west, on the Netherlands in the northeast, and on France in the south. The chief cities are Bruges Bruges (br

zh, Fr.
..... Click the link for more information. (the capital), Kortrijk Kortrijk (kôrt`rīk), Fr. Courtrai, city (1991 pop. 76,141), West Flanders prov., SW Belgium, on the Leie River.
..... Click the link for more information. , Oostende Oostende (ōstĕn`də), Fr. Ostende, city (1991 pop. 68,500), West Flanders prov., W Belgium, on the North Sea.
..... Click the link for more information. , Ypres Ypres (ē`prə), Du. Ieper, commune (1991 pop. 35,235), West Flanders prov., SW Belgium, near the French border.
..... Click the link for more information. , and Roeselare Roeselare (r

`səlärə), Fr. Roulers, city (1991 pop.
..... Click the link for more information. . West Flanders is drained by the Leie and Yser rivers and has many small canals. It has considerable fertile soil; grain, flax, potatoes, sugar beets, and tobacco are grown. Dairy cattle are raised. Fishing is pursued in the North Sea. The province's varied manufactures include textiles, linen, and metal goods. West Flanders is mainly Dutch-speaking. For its history, see Flanders Flanders (flăn`dərz), former county in the Low Countries, extending along the North Sea and W of the Scheldt (Escaut) River.
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