Veurne (BE)

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Veurne; (French: Furnes) is a city and municipality in the Belgian province of West Flanders.

The 15th century saw the construction of a new city hall, which is known today as the Pavilion of the Spanish officers, from its use in the 17th century as military headquarters. As most of the "Westhoek" (the Western part of the county of Flanders), the city and the neighbourghood strongly recessed during the economic and religious problems around 1566–1583. But when the town and the castellany officially got together, the town flourished, thanks to the expanding agriculture of the agrarian region.

From the Battle of Waterloo until World War I, Veurne could enjoy a century of quiet and prosperity. In 1831, Veurne was the first city to welcome Belgium's new king, Leopold I, in his new country.

During World War I, Veurne was located within the Yser pocket of Belgian resistance against the German troops. During the Battle of the Yser, the Veurne city hall became the headquarters for the Belgian troops under King Albert I and a military hospital was set up in the city. In 1920, the French President, Raymond Poincaré, came to Veurne to award the city the Croix de guerre with palm.

Veurne suffered some damage during World War II, mainly from allied bombing but also from the strategic flooding that engulfed the whole area. Today, the city is a regional centre, which gives commercial, medical, and educational services to the surrounding communities while enjoying increasing tourist attention.

Postmark Examples

FURNES 3S office stamp of 1873

Veurne 1985

Railway stamps

Railway 1912

Railway 1940

Slogan cancels

Slogan cancel 1970

Slogan cancel 1988

Slogan cancel 1990

Meter cancels

Meter cancel 1976

Cards and Covers

Postal Card from Veurne to Gent (Gand) in Belgium. 1919.