Editing Veurne

{{Short description|Municipality in Flemish Community, Belgium}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox Belgium municipality
|name             = Veurne
|type             = city
|picture          = Grote Markt, Veurne (DSCF9659-DSCF9664).jpg
|picture-legend   = Veurne market square
|map              = Veurne West-Flanders Belgium Map.svg
|map-legend       = Location of Veurne in [[West Flanders]]
|arms             = Blason ville be Veurne.svg
|flag             = Flag of Furnes, Belgium.svg
|region           = {{BE-REG-FLE}}
|community        = {{BE-NL}}
|province         = {{BE-PROV-WV}}
|arrondissement   = [[Arrondissement of Veurne|Veurne]]
|nis              = 38025
|pyramid-date     = 01/01/2006
|0–19=23.44
|20–64=56.87
|65=19.69
|foreigners=1.39
|foreigners-date  = 01/07/2005
|mayor            = Peter Roose (Veurne Plus)
|majority         = [[Christian Democratic and Flemish|CD&V]], Veurne Plus
|postal-codes     = 8630
|telephone-area   = 058
|web              = [http://www.veurne.be/ www.veurne.be]
|coordinates      = {{coord|51|04|N|02|39|E|region:BE|display=inline,title}}
}}

'''Veurne''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈvøːrnə|-|Nl-Veurne.ogg}}; {{langx|fr|Furnes|italic=no}}, {{IPA|fr|fyʁn|pron}}) is a [[City status in Belgium|city]] and [[Municipalities in Belgium|municipality]] in the [[Belgium|Belgian]] [[Provinces of Belgium|province]] of [[West Flanders]]. The municipality comprises the town of Veurne proper and the settlements of {{Interlanguage link multi|Avekapelle|nl}}, {{Interlanguage link multi|Booitshoeke|nl}}, {{Interlanguage link multi|Bulskamp|nl}}, {{Interlanguage link multi|De Moeren (Belgium)|nl|3=De Moeren (België)}}, {{Interlanguage link multi|Eggewaartskapelle|nl}}, [[Houtem]], {{Interlanguage link multi|Steenkerke (West Flanders)|nl|3=Steenkerke (West-Vlaanderen)}}, {{Interlanguage link multi|Vinkem|nl}}, [[Wulveringem]], and {{Interlanguage link multi|Zoutenaaie|nl}}.

==History==

===Origins up to the 15th century===
Veurne, in Latin ''[[List of Latin place names in Continental Europe|Furna]]'', is first found in 877 as a possession of the [[Saint Bertin]] Abbey in [[Saint-Omer]].  Around 890 AD, it was noted as a successful fortification against the [[Viking]] raids.  It soon was placed at the head of the [[castellan]]y of Veurne, a large territory counting 42 parishes and some 8 half-independent parishes, owing allegiance to the [[Count of Flanders]].  Veurne became a city in the 12th century.  During the following century, trade with England flourished.  In 1270, however, the relations with England came to a standstill and the city's economy went into a long decline; hence the nickname of the Veurne Sleepers.  On August 20, 1297, the [[Battle of Furnes|Battle of Veurne]] was fought in the ongoing struggle between the Flemish cities and the French king.

The gothic church of Saint Walburga and the tower of the church of Saint Nicolas, date from that period. Saint Walburga housed a chapter of [[Canon (priest)|canons]]. Saint Nicholas and Saint Denis (gone 18th century) were the two other parish churches and possessions of the Norbertine abbey of Saint Nicholas.

===15th century until the French Revolution===
[[File:Veurne, Belgium ; Ferraris Map.jpg|thumb|left|Veurne on the [[Ferraris map]] (around 1775)]]
The 15th century saw the construction of a new city hall, which is known today as the Pavilion of the [[Spain|Spanish]] officers, from its use in the 17th century as military headquarters.  As most of the "Westhoek" (the Western part of the county of [[Flanders]]), the city and the neighbourghood strongly recessed during the economic and religious problems around 1566–1583. But when the town and the [[castellany]] officially got together, the town flourished, thanks to the expanding agriculture of the agrarian region.

Most of the other historic buildings date from this time, the prosperous reign of the Archdukes [[Archduke Albert of Austria (1559–1621)|Albert]] and [[Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia of Spain|Isabella]] around 1600.

In 1644 the [[Capucines]] organised a procession. Since 1646, this procession was organised by the "Sodales", a religious confraternity, that organised a crossway during Advent time, under the leadership of the [[Premonstratensian|Norbertine]] monk Jacob Clou. The hooded "Sodales" took a cross for penitence. This procession was expanded at the end of the 17th century with scenes from the Bible, and is the only one of his kind, remaining up to now in Flanders.

The second half of the 17th century was marked by the miseries brought to the region by [[Louis XIV]]’s wars.  [[Vauban]] built heavy fortifications around the city, the outlines of which are still noticeable from the air today.  [[Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor|Joseph II of Austria]] put them down and closed some of the religious institutions, putting a temporary end to the penitents’ procession, until [[Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor|Leopold II of Austria]] allowed it again in 1790. Those few cloisters that were still operating were closed at the [[French Revolution]].

===19th and 20th century===
From the [[Battle of Waterloo]] until [[World War I]], Veurne enjoyed a century of peace and prosperity.  In 1831, Veurne was the first city to welcome Belgium's new king, [[Leopold I of Belgium|Leopold I]].

During World War I, Veurne was located within the [[Yser]] pocket of Belgian resistance against the [[Germany|German]] troops.  During the [[Battle of the Yser]], the Veurne city hall became the headquarters of the Belgian troops under [[Albert I of Belgium|King Albert I]] and a military hospital was set up in the city.  In 1920, the French President, [[Raymond Poincaré]], came to Veurne to award the city the [[Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France)|Croix de guerre]] with palm.

Veurne suffered some damage during [[World War II]], mainly from Allied bombing but also from the strategic flooding that engulfed the whole area.  Today, the city is a regional centre, which gives commercial, medical, and educational services to the surrounding communities while enjoying increasing tourist attention.

==Sights==
[[File:Veurne Stadtansicht.jpg|thumb|View of the central market]]
[[File:Veurne Rathaus.jpg|thumb|Old Courthouse]]
[[File:Veurne, parochiekerk Sint Niklaas vanaf de Grote Markt oeg16812 foto2 2013-05-11 15.26.jpg|Church (parochiekerk Sint Niklaas) from de Grote Markt|thumb]]

*Several [[Renaissance]]-style buildings, mostly built using the local light-coloured brick, adorn Veurne's central market square.  Among these are the city hall (''Landhuis'') and [[Belfries of Belgium and France|belfry]], which was recognized by [[UNESCO]] as part of the [[Belfries of Belgium and France]] World Heritage Site in 1999 to highlight its historical importance in civic functions, use as a status symbol of the influence of the town, and architecture.<ref name = "unesco">{{cite web |url = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/943 |title= Belfries of Belgium and France  |website = UNESCO World Heritage Centre |publisher = United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization |access-date = 5 November 2021}}</ref>
*The nearby church of Saint [[Walburga]] is an example of the earlier [[Gothic Architecture|Gothic]] style.
*Other buildings of interest include the church of Saint Nicolas, the Spanish Pavilion, and the old meat market.
*The castle of Beauvoorde on the outskirts of town, an old manor with a collection of 17th-century furniture.
*NATO-Tower – {{Convert|243|m}} tall, used for meteorological research and radio relay links.

==Folklore==
[[File:Veurne Penitential Procession.jpg|thumb|The [[Penitential Procession]] passes through Veurne every year on the last Sunday of July]]
The annual ''Boeteprocessie'' (procession of the penitents) takes place every year on the last Sunday of July.  This unique event includes cross-carrying, hooded penitents and other groups of participants who recreate the [[Passion (Christianity)|Passion]] of [[Jesus]].

==Towns==
The municipality of Veurne comprises 11 "[[deelgemeente]]s". Veurne proper is the largest centre and has the largest population. The others are small rural villages: [[Avekapelle]], [[Booitshoeke]], [[Bulskamp]], De Moeren, [[Eggewaartskapelle]], [[Houtem]], [[Steenkerke]], [[Vinkem]], [[Wulveringem]] and [[Zoutenaaie]]. The municipality of Veurne has a total resident population of 11.701 (18/08/2015).

{| border="0" style="border: 1px solid #999; background-color:#FFFFFF"
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! # !! Naam !! Area <small>km<sup>2</sup></small>!! Population <small>(18/08/2015)</small>
|- align="right" bgcolor="#efefef"
|I || align="left" | Veurne || 22,67 || 8.635
|- align="right"
|II || align="left" | [[Booitshoeke]] || 3,35 || 97
|- align="right" bgcolor="#efefef"
|III || align="left" | [[Avekapelle]] || 4,58 || 313
|- align="right" 
|IV || align="left" | [[Zoutenaaie]] || 2,07 || 18  
|- align="right" bgcolor="#efefef"
|V || align="left" | [[Eggewaartskapelle]] || 4,90 || 163
|- align="right" 
|VI || align="left" | [[Steenkerke]] || 11,79 ||  381
|- align="right" bgcolor="#efefef"
|VII || align="left" | [[Bulskamp]] || 8,03 ||  695
|- align="right" 
|VIII || align="left" | [[Wulveringem]] || 9,37 || 337
|- align="right" bgcolor="#efefef"
|IX || align="left" | [[Vinkem]] || 5,27 ||  320
|- align="right" 
|X || align="left" | [[Houtem]] || 12,71 ||  636
|- align="right" bgcolor="#efefef"
|XI || align="left" | De Moeren || 11,58 ||  106
|- align="right" 
|}
:<small>Source: [http://www.veurne.be/product/351/aantal-inwoners-en-oppervlakte official website city of Veurne]</small>

{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break}}
[[File:MapVeurne.svg|thumb|250px|none|Veurne, towns and neighbouring towns. The yellow areas are urban areas.]]
{{Col-break}}
Veurne borders the following villages and municipalities:

*a. [[Adinkerke]] (De Panne)
*b. [[Koksijde]] (Koksijde)
*c. {{Interlanguage link multi|Wulpen (Belgium)|nl|3=Wulpen (België)}} (Koksijde)
*d. {{Interlanguage link multi|Ramskapelle (Nieuwpoort)|nl}} ([[Nieuwpoort, Belgium|Nieuwpoort]])
*e. [[Pervijze]] (Diksmuide)
*f. [[Lampernisse]] (Diksmuide)
*g. [[Alveringem]] (Alveringem)
*h. [[Oeren]] (Alveringem)
*i. [[Izenberge]] (Alveringem)
*j. [[Leisele]] (Alveringem)
*k. [[Hondschoote]] (France)
*l. [[Les Moëres]] (France)
*m. [[Ghyvelde]] (France)
{{col-end}}

==Notable people from Veurne==
* [[Victor Boucquet]] (1619–1677), painter
* {{Interlanguage link multi|Karel Cogge|nl}} ( -1922), hero of the [[Battle of the Yser]] in World War I
* [[Paul Delvaux]], [[Surrealism|surrealist]] painter, lived in Veurne for more than 20 years and died there.
* [[Edmond Hanssens]] (1843 – [[Vivi, Democratic Republic of the Congo|Vivi (Congo)]] 1884), explorer of [[Democratic Republic of the Congo|Congo]].
* [[Infanta Teresa, Countess of Flanders|Teresa of Portugal, Countess of Flanders]] around 1200, also died in Veurne.
* [[Will Tura]], singer, musician, composer, and songwriter, was born in Veurne.

===Honorary citizens===
* [[Albert I of Belgium|King Albert I]] (1875–1934)
* [[Paul Delvaux]] (1897–1994)
* [[Frans Brouw]] (1929)
* [[Walter Plaetinck]] (1931)
* [[Will Tura]] (1940)
* [[Willem Vermandere]] (1940)

==Twin city==
* {{GER}}: [[Rösrath]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.veurne.be/}} {{in lang|nl}}
* {{cite EB1911|wstitle=Furnes|volume=11|page=362}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre = Veurne
|North     = [[De Panne]], [[Koksijde]]
|Northeast = [[Nieuwpoort, Belgium|Nieuwpoort]]
|East      = [[Diksmuide]]
|South     = [[Alveringem]]
|Southwest = [[Hondschoote]] ([[France|FR]]-[[Nord (French department)|59]])
|West      = [[Les Moëres]] ([[France|FR]]-[[Nord (French department)|59]])
}}
{{Municipalities in West Flanders}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Veurne| ]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Belgium]]
[[Category:Lowest points of countries]]