With a population of less than 1,000 and an area of just 900 hectares, the small
town of Messines in West Flanders, close to the French border, is not only the
smallest council region in Belgium, it is also an "honorary city".
Messines in French and Mesen in Flemish (Dutch), the town can trace its
city status back beyond the French Revolution. In those days much of what is today
Belgium was part of France. But when the Dutch invaded, city status was lost and
Messines did not recover its
honorary title until 1985.
More summaries about the Messines - The Town