Blankenberge

Blankenberge (Dutch: [ˈblɑŋkə(m)bɛrɣə] ; French: [blɑ̃kønbɛʁg] ; West Flemish: Blanknberge [ˈblɑŋʔŋ̍bærɦə]) is a seaside municipality and city in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the town of Blankenberge proper and the settlement of Uitkerke. On 1 December 2014, Blankenberge had a total population of 19,897. The total area of the municipality is 17.41 km2, giving a population density of 1,142 inhabitants per km2. The towns inhabitants are called Blankenbergenaars. Blankenberge is one of the most important seaside resorts on the Belgian coast in terms of tourist numbers and hotel reservations. It is a national and to a certain extent international seaside resort, attracting visitors from across northern Europe. It possesses a long sandy beach, and a 350-metre-long (1,150 ft) Art Deco pier, the Belgium Pier, constructed in 1933.