Harelbeke

Harelbeke
Municipality

Flag
Coat of arms
Harelbeke

Location in Belgium

Coordinates: 50°51′N 03°18′E / 50.850°N 3.300°ECoordinates: 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 (SP.A)
 • Governing party/ies SP.A, Open_VLD
Area
 • Total 29.14 km2 (11.25 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2013)[1]
 • Total 26,957
 • Density 930/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
Postal codes 8530, 8531
Area codes 056
Website www.harelbeke.be

Harelbeke is a 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, 2006, Harelbeke had a total population of 26,172. The total area is 29.14 km² which gives a population density of 898 inhabitants per km².

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

References

  1. ↑ Population per municipality on 1 January 2013 (XLS; 607.5 KB)
  2. ↑ webpage describing the cemetery with special remarks on some Austrialian soldiers who have been buried here (in Dutch)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Harelbeke.
 Ingelmunster
Oostrozebeke
Lendelede
Kuurne		 Wielsbeke
Waregem
Deerlijk
   Harelbeke  
Kortrijk
Zwevegem