Country Belgium Region Flemish Region Postal codes 8930 Postal code 8930 Province West Flanders | Community Flemish Community Arrondissement Kortrijk Area codes 056 Local time Sunday 1:26 AM Area code 056 | |
 | ||
Weather 11°C, Wind SW at 21 km/h, 93% Humidity | ||
Menen ( [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.
Contents
Map of Menen, Belgium
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.
History
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.
Menen was a barrier town for the Kingdom of the Netherlands against France from 1815 to 1830.[1]
A new art museum, the Stadsmuseum ’t Schippershof, opened in 1999 which holds many works by Menen-born sculptor Yvonne Serruys.
In 2013 the city drew international attention by forbidding its civil servants to speak French with francophones. The mayor, Martine Fournier, ordered that, if necessary, the communication should be in sign language.
Towns
The municipality of Menen consists of Menen proper, Lauwe and Rekkem. In the area of Rekkem, there's also the hamlet Paradijs (Rekkem), separated by Rekkem proper by the A14/E17. In addition to the central town, Menen proper also contains the parishes and districts De Barakken and Ons Dorp. Menen proper is mainly located north of the Leie, Lauwe and Rekkem are located south of the river. The urban area of the city of Menen is directly connected with the urban area of the French municipality Halluin.