Mesen (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈmeːsə(n)] ^ⓘ; French: Messines, French pronunciation: [mɛsin], historically used in English) is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. On January 1, 2006, Mesen had a total population of 988. The total area is 3.58 km² which gives a population density of 276 inhabitants per km².

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Quick Facts Country, Community ...

Mesen
City and municipality
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Mesen
Mesen Location in Belgium Location of Mesen in West Flanders
Coordinates: 50°46′N 02°54′E
Country	Belgium
Community	Flemish Community
Region	Flemish Region
Province	West Flanders
Arrondissement	Ypres
Government
• Mayor	Sandy Evrard (MLM)
• Governing party/ies	Mesense Liberalen/Libéraux Messinois (MLM)
Area
• Total	3.6 km2 (1.4 sq mi)
Population  (2022-01-01)[1]
• Total	1,062
• Density	300/km2 (760/sq mi)
Postal codes	8957
NIS code	33016
Area codes	057
Website	www.mesen.be

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The municipality comprises only one main settlement, the town of Mesen proper. An exclave to the west of the main territory is surrounded by the municipalities of Heuvelland and Comines-Warneton.

Villages neighbouring the municipality:

• a. Wijtschate (in the municipality of Heuvelland)
• b. Warneton (in the municipality of Comines-Warneton)
• c. Ploegsteert (in the municipality of Comines-Warneton)

Mesen is the smallest city in Belgium. It is a municipality with language facilities.

Mesen is twinned with Featherston in New Zealand in part due to the location of the New Zealand World War I Memorial, which has annual Anzac Day commemorations on 25 April.

In 1062, Adela, wife of Baldwin the Pius, count of Flanders, translated the bones of Saint Sidronius from Rome to Messines.^[2]

Three battles were fought over the town during World War I (1914–1918):

• Battle of Messines (1914)
• Battle of Messines (1917) and Mines in the Battle of Messines
• Battle of the Lys (1918)

• Church tower from Mesen
• Sint-Niklaaskerk
• Messines Ridge British Cemetery
• Tower, Irish Peace Park in Mesen
• German Order for Mesen 7 April 1918