Harelbeke Explained

Harelbeke
Type:city
Map:Harelbeke West-Flanders Belgium Map.svg
Map-Legend:Location of Harelbeke in West-Flanders
Arms:Blason Harelbeke.svg
Flag:Flag of Harelbeke.svg
Arrondissement:Kortrijk
Nis:34013
Mayor:Alain Top (Vooruit-Groen)
Majority:Vooruit-Groen, CD&V
Postal-Codes:8530, 8531
Telephone-Area:056
Web:www.harelbeke.be
Coordinates:50.85°N 21°W

Harelbeke (in Dutch; Flemish pronounced as /ˈɦaːrəlbeːkə/; Oarlbeke) is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Harelbeke proper and the towns of Bavikhove and Hulste. On January 1, 2019, Harelbeke had a total population of 28,447. The total area is 29.14 km² which gives a population density of 898 inhabitants per km². Inhabitants consider their hometown to be a "Weireldstad" (metropolis), which also led to a monthly "Harelbekedag" amongst the students of Harelbeke studying in Ghent.

In Harelbeke a museum remembers the life and work of musician and composer Peter Benoit, called the Peter Benoit Huis.[1]

Famous natives

Harelbeke New British Cemetery

This cemetery is located just outside the downtown of Harelbeke and was designed by Willian Harrison Cowlishaw[2] and contains the graves of 1126 Commonwealth soldiers who died during WWI (1055 from the UK, 26 from Canada, 7 from Australia, 4 from South Africa and 3 from Newfoundland). In addition 10 British soldiers who died during WWII are buried here.

Events

Harelbeke has, since 1958, been the start and finish place of the E3 Harelbeke, a semi classic cycling race held the week before the Tour of Flanders.

Twin towns

External links

Notes and References

  1. Openbaar Kunstbezit Vlaanderen, Stedelijk Museum Peter Benoît
  2. Web site: Web page describing the cemetery with special remarks on some Australian soldiers who have been buried here (in Dutch) . 2014-01-21 . 2014-04-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140406215304/http://www.harelbeke.be/vrije-tijd/cultuur/erfgoed/bouwkundig-erfgoed/begraafplaatsen/brits-oorlogskerkhof . dead .