Harelbeke (Dutch: [ˈɦaːrəlˌbeːkə]; West Flemish: 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.[citation needed]
Harelbeke
Oarlbeke (West Flemish) | |
|---|---|
City and municipality | |
 | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
Location of Harelbeke  | |
  Harelbeke Location in Belgium
Location of Harelbeke in West-Flanders  | |
| Coordinates: 50°51′N 03°18′E / 50.850°N 3.300°E | |
| Country |  Belgium |
| Community | Flemish Community |
| Region | Flemish Region |
| Province | West Flanders |
| Arrondissement | Kortrijk |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Alain Top (Vooruit-Groen) |
| • Governing party/ies | Vooruit-Groen, CD&V |
| Area | |
• Total | 29.4 km2 (11.4 sq mi) |
| Population (2018-01-01)[1] | |
• Total | 27,886 |
| • Density | 950/km2 (2,500/sq mi) |
| Postal codes | 8530, 8531 |
| NIS code | 34013 |
| Area codes | 056 |
| Website | www.harelbeke.be |
In Harelbeke a museum remembers the life and work of musician and composer Peter Benoit, called the Peter Benoit Huis.[2]
Famous natives
edit- Andreas Pevernage (1542/1543 – 1591), composer of the late Renaissance
- Jacobus Vaet (1529-1567), Renaissance composer, possibly born in Harelbeke
- Armand Coeck (1941 - 2024), avant-garde composer
- Jan Bucquoy (1945 - ), anarchist and film-maker (Camping Cosmos)
- Peter Benoit, composer
- Wim Opbrouck, actor and singer
Harelbeke New British Cemetery
editThis cemetery is located just outside the downtown of Harelbeke and was designed by Willian Harrison Cowlishaw[3] 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
editHarelbeke 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.
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Harelbeke, church: the Sint-Salvatorkerk -
Roundabout in Bavikhove decorated with artwork referring to (and sponsored by) the local Bavik Brewery
Twin towns
edit
Kinheim, Germany (1997)
Eenhana, Namibia (2007)
Frýdek-Místek, Czech Republic
References
edit- ^ "Wettelijke Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2018". Statbel. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
- ^ Openbaar Kunstbezit Vlaanderen, Stedelijk Museum Peter Benoît (in Dutch)
- ^ "Web page describing the cemetery with special remarks on some Australian soldiers who have been buried here (in Dutch)". Archived from the original on 2014-04-06. Retrieved 2014-01-21.
External links
edit
- Official website - Available only in Dutch
- all about the town of Hulste - Available only in Dutch