La Panne
| De Panne | |||
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| Municipality | |||
De Panne city view
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 De Panne
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Location of De Panne in West Flanders
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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 | Ann Vanheste (DAS) | ||
| • Governing party/ies | DAS, CD&V | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 23.90 km2 (9.23 sq mi) | ||
| Population (1 January 2016) | |||
| • Total | 10,811 | ||
| • Density | 450/km2 (1,200/sq mi) | ||
| Postal codes | 8660 | ||
| Area codes | 058 | ||
| Website | www.depanne.be | ||
De Panne (French: La Panne) is a town and a municipality located on the North Sea coast of the Belgian province of West Flanders. There it borders France, which implies that it is the westernmost location of Belgium.
The municipality comprises apart from De Panne the village of Adinkerke.
On 1 January 2006 De Panne had a total population of 10,060 on a total area of 23.90 km², which gives a population density of 421 inhabitants per km².
Famous people who lived or died in De Panne include King Albert I and Queen Elisabeth, and John Aidan Liddell, VC, who died in De Panne in August 1915. The Belgian royal family 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.
Since 1977 the town has hosted the Three Days of De Panne cycle race, which is held in the run up to, and traditionally used by riders as preparation for, the Tour of Flanders.
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. A cross-border campaign group called Trekhaak-73 is seeking to re-open the railway line.
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Wikipedia