Kortemark

Kortemark is a municipality in the northwestern part of Belgium, located in the Flemish Region, in the province of West Flanders, within the arrondissement of Diksmuide. As of January 1, 2024, the municipality had 12,815 inhabitants. Its coordinates place it at roughly 51.03°N, 3.04°E, in the flat, agricultural landscape typical of western Belgium, not far from the French border and the North Sea coast.

What towns make up the municipality?

Kortemark is not a single town but a municipality composed of several smaller communities. Its administrative boundaries include the towns of Handzame, Kortemark, Werken, and Zarren. This structure is common among Belgian municipalities, many of which were formed by merging historically separate villages during the local government reforms of the second half of the 20th century. The name Kortemark was also historically spelled as "Cortemarck," a form pointing to the settlement's long history in the region.

How large is the municipality and how many people live there?

The total area of the municipality is 55.00 km². For comparison of demographic data over time: in 2006, the municipality had a total population of 11,976, giving a population density of 218 inhabitants per km². Since then, the population has grown to 12,815 as of early 2024. This represents a gradual, moderate increase in population over nearly two decades, consistent with broader demographic trends seen in smaller municipalities across West Flanders.

Where exactly is Kortemark located?

The municipality lies in West Flanders, one of the five provinces of the Flemish Region — the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium. Administratively, Kortemark belongs to the arrondissement of Diksmuide. Unlike Wallonia, the Flemish Region is Dutch-speaking, and this part of the country is characterized by flat, agricultural terrain typical of Belgium's low-lying coastal areas.

Frequently asked questions

Is Kortemark a city or a village? Formally, it is a municipality (Dutch: gemeente) — an administrative unit combining several towns rather than a single city. It comprises Handzame, Kortemark, Werken, and Zarren.

Where in Belgium is Kortemark located? In northwestern Belgium, in the Flemish Region, in the province of West Flanders, within the arrondissement of Diksmuide.

How many people live in the municipality of Kortemark? As of January 1, 2024, the municipality had 12,815 inhabitants, across an area of 55.00 km².

Did Kortemark previously have a different name? Yes, the town was previously also known as Cortemarck.