Mariakerke, West Flanders

Mariakerke (Dutch pronunciation: [maːˈrijaːˌkɛrkə]) is a seaside resort in the West Flanders province of Belgium. Previously a village of its own just to the west of Ostend, it now forms part of that town. It has 11,305 inhabitants.

History

The oldest reference to the town dates to 1171, when it is called S. Mariae Capella.