Watou is a village in the Belgian province of West Flanders and a district of the town of Poperinge. The village has a population of 1,900. It lies on the border with France. The hamlet Abele is part of Watou. Poperinge is situated on the border with the hamlet of Sint-Jan-ter-Biezen [nl].

Every summer, from June until September, the Watou Arts Festival takes place in this village close to the French border. Poets, visual artists and upcoming talent settle in and create high level art throughout the village. Watou offers special locations as exhibition spaces, like a former monastery, an old farmhouse, school or the cellar of a brewery. The interaction between surprising spaces with sublime contemporary art and poetry provides each year a unique art experience.

St. Bernardus Brewery^[1] and Brouwerij Van Eecke [nl] are located in Watou.

The St. Bavo Church [nl] dates partly from the 12th century.

The Watou church and cemetery is located next to Watouplein, the square in the center of the village. During World War I, Watou and its surroundings were a quiet resting area behind the lines. No armed conflicts took place here, so Watou Churchyard only saw a few war burials between April 1915 (Second Battle of Ypres) and the Armistice of 11 November 1918.

• Sint-Jan-ter-Biezen [nl]

• 
  Hommelbier [nl] from the Brouwerij Van Eecke [nl]
• 
  Kappitel [nl]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Watou.

• Official website

v t e Municipalities in the Province of West Flanders, Flanders, Belgium
Bruges	Beernem Blankenberge Bruges/Brugge Damme Jabbeke Knokke-Heist Oostkamp Torhout Zedelgem Zuienkerke
Diksmuide	Diksmuide Houthulst Koekelare Kortemark Lo-Reninge
Kortrijk	Anzegem Avelgem Deerlijk Harelbeke Kortrijk Kuurne Lendelede Menen Spiere-Helkijn Waregem Wevelgem Zwevegem
Ostend	Bredene De Haan Gistel Ichtegem Middelkerke Oostende/Ostend Oudenburg
Roeselare	Hooglede Ingelmunster Izegem Ledegem Lichtervelde Moorslede Roeselare Staden
Tielt	Ardooie Dentergem Meulebeke Oostrozebeke Pittem Ruiselede Tielt Wielsbeke Wingene
Veurne	Alveringem De Panne Koksijde Nieuwpoort Veurne
Ypres	Heuvelland Ieper/Ypres Langemark-Poelkapelle Mesen Poperinge Vleteren Wervik Zonnebeke
Bold indicates cities Italic indicates Municipalities with language facilities

50°52′N 2°37′E / 50.867°N 2.617°E / 50.867; 2.617