Middelkerke

Middelkerke
Municipality
Middelkerke town hall
Flag Coat of arms
Middelkerke Location in Belgium
Location of Middelkerke in West Flanders
Coordinates: 51°11′N 02°49′E / 51.183°N 2.817°E / 51.183; 2.817Coordinates: 51°11′N 02°49′E / 51.183°N 2.817°E / 51.183; 2.817
Country	Belgium
Community	Flemish Community
Region	Flemish Region
Province	West Flanders
Arrondissement	Ostend
Government
• Mayor	Jana Rommel-Opstaele (Open Vld)
• Governing party/ies	Open Vld, CD&V
Area
• Total	75.65 km2 (29.21 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2016)
• Total	19,262
• Density	250/km2 (660/sq mi)
Postal codes	8430-8434
Area codes	059
Website	www.middelkerke.be

Middelkerke is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders, on the North Sea, west of Ostend. The municipality comprises the villages of Leffinge, Lombardsijde, Mannekensvere, Middelkerke proper, Schore, Sint-Pieters-Kapelle, Slijpe, Westende and Wilskerke. On January 1, 2006, Middelkerke had a total population of 17,841. The total area is 75.65 km² which gives a population density of 236 inhabitants per km².

The first reference of 'Middelkerca' is found in 1218. Before 1876 it mainly was a farming settlement.

The Noordzeecross is a February cyclo-cross race held in Middelkerke, which is part of the Superprestige.