Editing Knokke-Heist

{{Infobox Belgium municipality
|name             = Knokke-Heist
|namefr           = Knocke-Heist
|picture          = Knokke-Heist.jpg
|picture-legend   = 
|map              = Knokke-Heist West-Flanders Belgium Map.svg
|map-legend       = Location of Knokke-Heist in [[West Flanders]]
|arms             = BEL Knokke-Heist COA.svg
|flag             = BEL Knokke-Heist Flag.svg
|region           = {{BE-REG-FLE}}
|community        = {{BE-NL}}
|province         = {{BE-PROV-WV}}
|arrondissement   = [[Arrondissement of Bruges|Bruges]]
|nis              = 31043
|pyramid-date=01/01/2006
|0-19=16.81
|20-64=56.76
|65=26.42
|foreigners=4.02
|foreigners-date=01/07/2005
|mayor            = Cathy Coudyser
|majority         = Inzicht-Ja!
|postal-codes     = 8300, 8301
|telephone-area   = 050
|web              = [http://www.knokke-heist.be/ www.knokke-heist.be]
|coordinates      = {{coord|51|20|N|03|17|E|region:BE|display=inline,title}}
}}
'''Knokke-Heist''' ({{IPA|nl|ˌknɔkəˈɦɛist}}; {{langx|fr|Knocke-Heist}}) is a [[Municipalities in Belgium|municipality]] in the [[Belgium|Belgian]] [[Provinces of Belgium|province]] of [[West Flanders]]. The municipality comprises the towns of [[Heist-aan-Zee]], [[Knokke]], [[Duinbergen]], [[Ramskapelle (Knokke-Heist)|Ramskapelle]] and [[Westkapelle (Belgium)|Westkapelle]]. On January 1, 2006, Knokke-Heist had a total population of 34,063. The total area is 56.44&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> which gives a [[population density]] of 603 inhabitants per km<sup>2</sup>.  Knokke-Heist is located along the [[North Sea]] in a [[polder]] area on the Belgian border with the [[Netherlands]].  It is Belgium's best-known and most affluent [[seaside resort]].

==History==

===Middle Ages===
[[Image:Knokke-Heist Visscherkapelletje.jpg|thumb|left|Chapel of the fishermen in Heist]]
Originally, the marshy [[Zwin]] area was mostly settled by shepherds and fishermen.  With the encouragement of the [[Counts of Flanders]], several [[dyke (construction)|dyke]]s were built between the 11th and the 13th century and the land successfully [[Dewatering|dewatered]], giving rise to agriculture and further sheep breeding.  New parishes were founded and the early settlement of Sint-Anna-ter-Muiden, later made part of Westkapelle, obtained city rights in 1242.

The strategic importance of the Zwin harbour was recognized in 1301, during the war between Count [[Guy of Dampierre]] and the French King [[Philip IV of France|Philip the Fair]].  During the [[Hundred Years' War]] that followed shortly after, several battles were fought between France and England for supremacy of the area including the [[Battle of Sluys]] in June 1340.  The local population tried to remain neutral as it was politically tied to Flanders, then allied to France, but economically dependent on wool from England.  Under [[Philip the Bold]]’s leadership, it took advantage of the relative peace of the end of the century to fortify the canal linking the Zwin to the port of [[Bruges]].

===15th to 17th century===
The beginning of the 15th century witnessed several renewed English attacks on neighboring [[Sluis]], with devastating effects on the local economy, until a lasting peace was signed in 1439.  The end of the century was marked by internal rebellions against [[Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor|Maximilian of Austria]] and strategic flooding of the [[polder]]s.  The reign of [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]] in the following century saw peace coming back to the region.  This was also the time when the Zwin started silting and when apple [[orchard]]s were planted to supplement the local economy.

The [[French Wars of Religion|Wars of Religion]] of the late 16th century brought renewed floods and devastation, but the economy managed to come back to life after the [[Peace of Westphalia]] with the cultivation of [[rapeseed]] and [[potato]]es.  The strength of this agricultural rebirth and of the cattle trade allowed the local farmers to weather future economic crises relatively well.

===18th century until today===
Following the [[Treaty of Utrecht]] in 1713, the territory of Knokke was annexed to the [[Netherlands]], but the old border was reestablished at the Zwin a few years later.  After the [[Battle of Fleurus (1794)]], Bruges, Knokke and the neighboring municipalities were included in the [[130 departments of the First French Empire|department]] of the [[Lys (department)|Lys]].  The construction of the [[Leopold Canal (Belgium)|Leopold Canal]] in 1857 made the closing of the Zwin and its transformation in a natural reservation possible.  The development of Knokke and Heist as tourist destinations followed soon after.  The population of Knokke doubled between 1873 and 1914 to 3,326 inhabitants, then again from 1914 to 1930 and again to reach more than 14,000 in 1965 despite the heavy setbacks brought by [[World War II]].

==Notable sights==
[[Image:Knocke-Heist.jpg|thumb|right|Beach promenade in Knokke-Heist]]

*The area known as ''Het Zoute'' (''Le Zoute'' in [[French language|French]]) includes the exclusive Royal Zoute Golf Club, located in the dunes.
*The [[Zwin]], a 158 ha coastal [[nature reserve]].  This large salt-water marsh area is also a protected bird sanctuary.
*The Sincfala museum, located in Heist, documents the regional history and way of life. 
*A [[butterfly]] garden (''Vlindertuin'') was established near ''Moeder Siska'', the [[coffeehouse]] that makes clover-shaped [[waffle]]s which dates from 1892. Both closed in 2010.
*[[:nl:Scharpoord|Scharpoord]], a concert hall
*"De groetende mannen", translated to "the men greeting (each other)", a sculpture by Joep van Lieshout of two large orange men shaking hands
*The sculpture of Alfred Verwee located in front of the town hall
*The sculpture located on the beach of Knokke-Heist. There are many sculptures in Knokke-Heist located on the beach and on the wave breakers.
*The pink fountain located at the tourism center.
*The sculpture of a blue floating water faucet built by the municipal water company.
*The sculpture of a rabbit located at the end of the boardwalk.

==Events, sports and culture==
*Knokke-Heist is home to more than 40 [[art gallery|art galleries]].
*The ''Kneistival'', a free and week-long music festival, has taken place every July since 1986.
*Festival international du cinéma expérimental de Knokke-le-Zoute (Experimental Film festival)<ref>[[:fr:Festival international du cinéma expérimental de Knokke-le-Zoute]]</ref>
*Knokke-Heist is home to the [[Cartoonfestival Knokke-Heist|Cartoon Festival of Knokke-Heist]], which is an art gallery open in the summer located on the beach in front of the casino in which cartoons for adults and children are presented.
*Knokke-Heist host a carnaval every year at the end of February.
*The Belgian Basketball Supercup is held in Knokke-Heist.
*The Belgian Volleyball Supercup is also held in Knokke-Heist.
*Miss Belgian beauty is Belgian beauty pageant held in Knokke-Heist.
*The Zwin Triathlon at the end of September.

==Inhabitants==
*[[Günther Vanaudenaerde]], defense [[soccer|football]] player (1984-)
*[[Nicky Degrendele]], cyclist and bodybuilder (1996-)

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Knokke Albertstrand R02.jpg|{{center|Beach}}
File:Casino Knokke.JPG|{{center|Casino}}
File:Stadhuis van Knokke, Alfred Verweeplein 1, Knokke.jpg|{{center|Townhall}}
File:Pissarro Camille, Le village de Knocke, 1894, ppp630, Paris Musées.jpg|{{center|Painting of one time village}}
File:ZWIN.jpg|{{center|The [[Zwin]] nature reserve }}
File:Knokke - Dominicanenkerk 1.jpg| {{center|Dominican church}}
File:Alfred Verwee002.jpg| {{center|Sculpture of [[Alfred Verwee]]}} 
File:Twee Groetende AVL-Mannen 02.jpg|{{center|Sculpture by [[Joep van Lieshout]]}}
File:Pines at Knocke by Charles Warren Eaton.jpg|{{center|''Pines at Knocke'' by [[Charles Warren Eaton]]}}
File:St George Knokke.JPG| {{center|St George's Anglican Church}}

</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Belgian Coast Tram]]
*[[Knokke railway station]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.knokke-heist.be Official website] - Information available in [[Dutch language|Dutch]], [[French language|French]], [[English language|English]] and [[German language|German]]
*[http://www.sincfala.be Sincfala museum] - Information on local history and on the Zwin area, available in [[Dutch language|Dutch]] only
*[http://www.khmagazine.be KH Magazine] - Official website of the community magazine KH, including a complete activity calendar [[Dutch language|Dutch]], [[French language|French]]

{{Geographic location
|Centre = Knokke-Heist
|N = ''[[North Sea]]''
|E = [[Sluis]] ([[Netherlands|NL]]-[[Zeeland|ZE]])
|S = [[Damme]]
|W = [[Bruges]]
}}
{{bct}}
{{Municipalities in West Flanders}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Knokke-Heist| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of West Flanders]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns of the North Sea]]
[[Category:Seaside resorts in Belgium]]