Harelbeke

Harelbeke
Oarlbeke (West Flemish)
Flag of Harelbeke
Coat of arms of Harelbeke
Location of Harelbeke in West-Flanders
Location of Harelbeke in West-Flanders
Map
Interactive map of Harelbeke
Harelbeke is located in Belgium
Harelbeke
Harelbeke
Location in Belgium
Coordinates: 50°51′N 03°18′E / 50.850°N 3.300°E / 50.850; 3.300
CountryBelgium
CommunityFlemish Community
RegionFlemish Region
ProvinceWest Flanders
ArrondissementKortrijk
Government
 • MayorAlain Top (Vooruit-Groen)
 • Governing partiesVooruit-Groen, CD&V
Area
 • Total
29.4 km2 (11.4 sq mi)
Population
 (2018-01-01)[1]
 • Total
27,886
 • Density949/km2 (2,460/sq mi)
Postal codes
8530, 8531
NIS code
34013
Area codes056
Websitewww.harelbeke.be

Harelbeke (Dutch: [ˈɦaːrəlˌbeːkə]; West Flemish: Oarlbeke) is a municipality and city[2] 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.[citation needed]

In Harelbeke a museum remembers the life and work of musician and composer Peter Benoit, called the Peter Benoit Huis.[3]

Famous natives

Harelbeke New British Cemetery

This cemetery is located just outside the downtown of Harelbeke and was designed by Willian Harrison Cowlishaw[4] 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

References