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Koolkerke
Koolkerke
Sub-municipality of Bruges
	View on Koolkerke
	Coat of arms
	Location of Koolkerke
	Location of Koolkerke in Bruges
	Koolkerke Koolkerke
	Coordinates: 51°14′30″N 3°14′59″E / 51.24167°N 3.24972°E
Country	Belgium
Community	Flemish Community
Region	Flemish Region
Province	West Flanders
Arrondissement	Bruges
Municipality	Bruges
Area
• Total	4.17 km2 (1.61 sq mi)
Population (2014-12-31)
• Total	3,361
• Density	810/km2 (2,100/sq mi)
Postal codes	8000
Area codes	050

Koolkerke (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈkoːlˌkɛrkə]) is a sub-municipality of the city of Bruges located in the province of West Flanders, Flemish Region, Belgium. It was a separate municipality until 1971. On 1 January 1971, it was merged into Bruges.^[1]

History

Although Roman remains have been found, the first written mention of the village Koolkerke dates from the 12th century. The name "Coolkercke" was first mentioned in 1243. The Old Zwin, a watercourse which connected Bruges to the Zwin in Knokke and the Nortsea, ran past the village. Old Zwin silted up, replaced by a canal constructed by the order of Napoleon and two forts were built in the 17th century: Fort Lapin south of Koolkerke and the 'Fort de Bavière' or Fort van Beieren, the remains of this can be seen today.

It is believed that the name derives from Kool, a short version of the name Nicolas, hence from the church of St Nicholas. The church in Koolkerke was named by the settlement's founder, Nicolaas Gaillaerd.^[2]

Other local attractions include the old windmill Ter Panne,^[3] and the Groene Poort castle, Dudzeelse steenweg 460 (now called Château Rougesse).^[4]