FURNES (Fleur. Veurne), an old-fashioned little town amid the dunes near the coast in West Flanders, Belgium, about 26 m. S.W. of Bruges. Pop. (1930) 7,818. It is the centre of a con siderable area extending to the French frontier, and its market is an important one for the disposal of corn, stock, hops and dairy produce. During the Norman raids Furnes was destroyed, and the present town was built by Baldwin Bras de Fer, first count of Flanders, about the year 87o. In the 14th century the barony of Furnes owned 52 rich villages, but these have all dis appeared, partly owing to French invasions down to the end of the i8th century, but chiefly through encroachment of the sea followed by accumulation of sand. Furnes contains a Grand Place with many curious old houses and the church of St. Wal burga, which is a fine survival of the 13th century with some older portions. Near Furnes on the seashore is the fashionable bathing place called La Panne. On the last Sunday in July the fete of Calvary and the Crucifixion is celebrated. Of all popular festivities in Belgium this is the nearest approach to the old Passion play.