PREES, a circle of the province of West Flanders, in the Netherlands, extending over 330 square miles, divided into seven cantons, and those into forty-six communes, with
96,800 inhabitants. The capital is the city of the same name. It stands on the river Yperle, by which it has a communication with the sea at Nieuport. It is in a fruitful district, is fortified and well built, with a fine market-place and most magnificent town-house. There is a college, a cathedral, four other churches, and several convents. There was formerly much more trade than at present, consisting chiefly in linens. It now contains 16,500 inhabitants. Long. 2. 47. E. Lat. 50. 51. 10. N.