Menen

Menen
Municipality
Town hall of Menen
Flag Coat of arms
Menen Location in Belgium
Location of Menen in West-Flanders
Coordinates: 50°48′N 03°07′E / 50.800°N 3.117°E / 50.800; 3.117Coordinates: 50°48′N 03°07′E / 50.800°N 3.117°E / 50.800; 3.117
Country	Belgium
Community	Flemish Community
Region	Flemish Region
Province	West Flanders
Arrondissement	Kortrijk
Government
• Mayor	Martine Fournier (CD&V)
• Governing party/ies	NVA, CD&V, Open VLD
Area
• Total	33.07 km2 (12.77 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2016)
• Total	32,877
• Density	990/km2 (2,600/sq mi)
Postal codes	8930
Area codes	056
Website	www.menen.be

Menen (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈmeːnə(n)], French: Menin, West Flemish dialect: Mêenn [ˈmeːnən] or Mêende [ˈmeːndə]) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Menen proper and the towns of Lauwe and Rekkem. The city is situated on the French/Belgian border. On January 1, 2006, Menen had a total population of 32,413. The total area is 33.07 km² which gives a population density of 980 inhabitants per km².

The city of Menen gives its name to the Menin Gate in Ypres which is a monument to those killed in World War I. The gate is so called as the road from that gate is the road to Menen.

Menen's position near the French border led to many sieges in the history of the city. There were as many as 22 sieges between 1579 and 1830.

The city was part of France between 1668 and 1713. Vauban turned Menen into a model-fortification (1679–1689).

The city was besieged and taken by the Duke of Marlborough's allied Army in August 1706. During the Flanders Campaign of the Wars of the French Revolution the city changed hands several times. There has been a very big fire in 1750 that almost completely destroyed the city. It was also the scene of a battle in September 1793.