Dixmude

Diksmuide
Municipality
Town Hall and St Nicholas Church
Flag Coat of arms
Diksmuide Location in Belgium
Location of Diksmuide in West Flanders
Coordinates: 51°02′N 02°52′E / 51.033°N 2.867°E / 51.033; 2.867Coordinates: 51°02′N 02°52′E / 51.033°N 2.867°E / 51.033; 2.867
Country	Belgium
Community	Flemish Community
Region	Flemish Region
Province	West Flanders
Arrondissement	Diksmuide
Government
• Mayor	Lies Laridon (CD&V)
• Governing party/ies	CD&V, sp.a-Open
Area
• Total	149.40 km2 (57.68 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2016)
• Total	16,551
• Density	110/km2 (290/sq mi)
Postal codes	8600
Area codes	051
Website	www.diksmuide.be

Diksmuide (Dutch pronunciation: [ˌdɪksˈmœy̯də]; French: Dixmude, West Flemish: Diksmude) is a Belgian city and municipality in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Diksmuide proper and the former communes of Beerst, Esen, Kaaskerke, Keiem, Lampernisse, Leke, Nieuwkapelle, Oostkerke, Oudekapelle, Pervijze, Sint-Jacobs-Kapelle, Stuivekenskerke, Vladslo and Woumen.

Most of the area west of the city is a polder riddled with drainage trenches. The major economic activity of the region is dairy farming, producing the famous butter of Diksmuide.

The 9th-century Frankish settlement of Dicasmutha was situated at the mouth of a stream near the Yser (Dutch: IJzer). The name is a compound of Dutch dijk (dike) and muide (river mouth). By the 10th century, a chapel and market place were already established. The city’s charter was granted two centuries later and defensive walls built in 1270. The economy was already then based mainly on agriculture, with dairy products and linen driving the economy. From the 15th century to the French Revolution, Diksmuide was affected by the wars between the Netherlands, France, Spain, and Austria, with a corresponding decline in activity. The 19th century was more peaceful and prosperous.