Kortrijk facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kortrijk Kortryk / Kortrik  (West Flemish) Courtrai  (French)
Municipality
Clockwise from top: Theatre Square (Schouwburgplein) during Summer Carnival, Beguinage and Saint Martin's Church, Broeltowers, Kortrijk City Hall as seen from the Grote Markt
Flag Coat of arms
Kortrijk Location in Belgium
Country	Belgium
Community	Flemish Community
Region	Flemish Region
Province	West Flanders
Arrondissement	Kortrijk
Area
• Total	80.02 km2 (30.90 sq mi)
Population  (2018-01-01)Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
• Total	Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1,575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Postal codes	85xx (8500, 8501, 8510, 8511)
Area codes	056
Website	www.kortrijk.be

Kortrijk is a city and municipality in the Flemish province of West Flanders, Belgium. It is also known as Courtrai in English and French.

With about 79,000 people living there in 2023, Kortrijk is the main city of its area. The wider municipality includes the city itself and several nearby villages like Aalbeke and Heule. Kortrijk is also part of a larger area that crosses the border into France, connecting with cities like Lille.

The city is located on the Leie river, about 42 kilometers (26 miles) southwest of Ghent. It's also 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) northeast of Lille in France.

Kortrijk started as a Roman town called Cortoriacum. In the Middle Ages, it grew very rich because of its flax and wool industries, trading with France and England. The city is often called the "City of the Golden Spurs." This name comes from the famous Battle of the Golden Spurs that happened here on July 11, 1302. This date is now a national holiday in Flanders.

Kortrijk is the largest city in southern West Flanders. It has many hospitals, colleges, and even a university campus. It was also the first city in Belgium to have a shopping street just for pedestrians.

Exploring Kortrijk's Past

How Kortrijk Got Its Name

The city's original Latin name, Cortoriacum, means "the settlement near the bend in the river." Over time, this name changed to 'Cortrycke', 'Cortryck', and finally 'Kortrijk' in the 19th century. In French and English, it's known as Courtrai.

Kortrijk's Roman Beginnings

Archeologists found signs that the Romans used this area as a camp around AD 43. This was when they were invading Britain. Cortoriacum was a large Gallo-Roman town. It was located at an important crossroads where Roman roads met near the Lys river.

In the 9th century, Baldwin II, Count of Flanders, built defenses here to protect against Vikings. Kortrijk officially became a city in 1190. As more people moved in, new defensive walls were built. You can still see parts of these walls today, like the Broeltorens.

Medieval Challenges and Growth

In the 13th century, battles led to the city being destroyed. However, the Counts of Flanders quickly rebuilt it. To help the city's industry, Joan, Countess of Flanders, removed property taxes for new settlers. This helped Kortrijk become a very important center for linen production.

The Famous Battle of the Golden Spurs

In 1302, the people of Bruges successfully rebelled against the French, who had taken over Flanders. The French then tried to punish them. The famous Battle of Courtrai, also known as the Battle of the Golden Spurs, happened on July 11, 1302. It was fought near Kortrijk between the Flemish people (mostly commoners and farmers) and the knights of Philip the Fair. The Flemish won, and this date is now a national holiday for the Flemish community.

Later, in 1381, the city was lost to another Flemish uprising. But the Flemish were defeated in 1382, leading to more destruction in Kortrijk.

From the 15th Century to Today

The 15th century was a good time for Kortrijk under the Dukes of Burgundy. However, after 1482, there was more fighting with France. The 16th century brought conflicts from the Protestant Reformation and the Netherlands' uprising against Spain.

During the reign of Louis XIV, the French occupied Courtrai five times in 60 years. Its old defenses were torn down. After the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era, the city's flax industry and economy grew strong again.

Kortrijk was heavily bombed in 1917 during World War I. It was freed by the British Army the next year. In World War II, the city was an important railway hub for the German army. Because of this, it was bombed by Allied planes. On July 21, 1944, many historical buildings and the old railway station were destroyed.

Kortrijk's Location and Surroundings

Parts of the Municipality

After a merger in 1977, the city of Kortrijk includes these areas:

• I Kortrijk (the main city)
• II Heule
• III Bissegem
• IV Marke
• V Aalbeke
• VI Rollegem
• VII Bellegem
• VIII Kooigem

Nearby Towns

The area around Kortrijk also includes towns like Kuurne, Wevelgem, Zwevegem, and Harelbeke. Even though these towns are closely connected to Kortrijk, they are not officially part of the city.

Municipalities

a. Kuurne (municipality Kuurne) b. Harelbeke (municipality Harelbeke) c. Zwevegem (municipality Zwevegem) d. Sint-Denijs (municipality Zwevegem) e. Spiere (municipality Spiere-Helkijn) f. Dottenijs (city of Moeskroen) g. Luingne (city of Moeskroen) h. Moeskroen (city of Moeskroen) i. Rekkem (city of Menen) j. Lauwe (city of Menen) k. Wevelgem (municipality Wevelgem) l. Gullegem (municipality Wevelgem) m. Sint-Eloois-Winkel (municipality Ledegem) n. Lendelede, with Sint-Katharina (municipality Lendelede)

Kortrijk's Weather

Kortrijk has an oceanic climate, which means it has mild temperatures and rainfall throughout the year.

Must-See Sights in Kortrijk

Old streets in the Béguinage.

Interior of the Saint-Anthony church

Medieval houses at the Begijnhof

Kortrijk has many old buildings that are still in great condition. The city center is one of the largest areas in Belgium where cars are not allowed. The béguinage and the belfry are even recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites.

Important Buildings to See

Public Buildings

• The medieval Kortrijk City Hall is on the main square, the Grote Markt. Its front has statues of the Counts of Flanders.
• The belfry has a statue of Mercury, the god of merchants, on top. It's a World Heritage Site.
• The Broel Towers are two similar medieval towers with a bridge connecting them over the Leie river.
• The Artillery Tower (Artillerietoren) is another historic defense structure.
• The Mont de Piété (Berg van Barmhartigheid) was a place where people could borrow money.
• The Weigh House (Stadswaag) on St. Michael's Square was used for weighing goods.
• Our Lady Hospital (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwehospitaal) was founded a long time ago, between 1200 and 1204.
• Baggaertshof is like a second Beguinage in Kortrijk and has a Botanical garden.
• Groeningekouter has the Groeningegate and the Groeninge Monument. These remember the 600th anniversary of the Battle of the Golden Spurs.

Religious Buildings

• The Saint-Martin church was built in the 13th century. It has a 48-bell carillon and its tower is the tallest building in the city.
• The beguinage is a charming old area. It's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The church of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk) used to be where the golden spurs from the 1302 battle were kept. It has a beautiful painting by van Dyck.
• The Count’s Chapel (Gravenkapel) was built like the Sainte Chapelle in Paris.
• Other churches include Saint-Michaelschurch, Saint-Johnschurch, and Saint-Anthonychurch.

Kortrijk's Museums

Kortrijk has several interesting museums:

• Kortrijk 1302: seven centuries in one day: This museum tells the story of the famous Battle of the Golden Spurs.
• Broelmuseum: This museum has fine art and archaeological finds, including paintings by Roelant Savery.
• National Flax Museum: This museum celebrates the flax plant, which was very important to Kortrijk's economy.
• Groeninge Abbey with the Groeningemuseum: This museum gives an overview of Kortrijk's history.
• Beguinage museum: Located in the old béguinage area.
• International Rose gardens: Beautiful gardens located in the park of the Castle t Hooghe.

Getting Around Kortrijk

Roads and Highways

Kortrijk is connected by three major highways:

• The E17: This road goes northeast to Ghent and Antwerp, and southwest to Lille and Paris.
• The E403: This road connects Kortrijk to Bruges and Ostend in the north, and to Tournai and Charleroi in the southeast.
• The Belgian highway A19: This road links Kortrijk with Ypres and the Belgian coast.

Kortrijk also has two ring roads: the R8 (outer ring) and the R36 (inner ring).

Train Travel

Kortrijk has two train stations:

• Kortrijk main railway station: This is an international station. You can take direct trains to major Belgian cities like Bruges, Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent. You can also go to Lille in France and Brussels Airport.
• Bissegem Station: This is a smaller station in the village of Bissegem, with connections to Ypres.

Public Buses

De Lijn operates a large network of public buses in Kortrijk. These buses connect the city center with its suburbs and many nearby towns and villages.

• City buses serve routes like Station to Kortrijk Xpo, Lange Munte, and Heule.
• Regional buses connect Kortrijk to the wider area.

Airport Access

Kortrijk Airport.

• Kortrijk has its own airport, Kortrijk-Wevelgem International Airport. It's mainly used for business and medical flights.
• For international flights, the national Brussels Airport is about an hour away by train or car.
• The Lille Lesquin International Airport in France is also nearby, about 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Kortrijk.

Waterways and Rivers

New Groeningebridge and Albertpark.

The river Lys (Leie) is important for transporting goods by boat. The Bossuit-Kortrijk Canal connects the city center directly to the Scheldt river.

Inside the city, the river briefly splits into two parts:

• Oude Leie (Old Lys): This is the original riverbed where the Broel towers stand.
• Nieuwe Leie (New Lys): This part was dug around 1585 to help power water-driven machines.

Since the 1970s, the "Leiewerken" (Leie works) project has been making the river deeper and wider. This allows larger ships to travel from France to the Scheldt. This project also includes a big renewal of the riverbanks in the city, with new bridges and parks.

Some of the new bridges built between 1997 and 2012 include:

• Dambrug
• Groeningebrug near the AlbertPark
• Ronde van Vlaanderenbrug near the new Nelson Mandelapark
• Collegebrug
• Noordbrug (2010)
• Budabrug

Recently, the riverbanks in front of the Broel Towers were lowered. This allows people to enjoy the historic riverbanks, which are now called the Leieboorden. It's a pedestrian area with bars and restaurants.

Walking and Cycling

In Kortrijk, cars must always yield to pedestrians and cyclists. Cars are usually directed to large underground parking lots or Park&Ride areas outside the city center. Many parts of the historic center are car-free, making it great for walking and cycling.

Kortrijk's Economy

Kortrijk has a long history with the flax and textile industries. Even today, the textile industry is still important in the region. Big companies like Cisco and Barco have their main offices in Kortrijk.

Learning and Education

Kortrijk is a major education hub in West Flanders. It attracts students from all over the region. There are 55 schools in Kortrijk, with about 21,000 students.

The city also offers higher education:

• The KULAK is a campus of the Catholic University of Leuven.
• Other colleges include VIVES University of Applied Sciences and Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen (HOWEST).
• There is also a campus of Ghent University.

European Connections

Even though Kortrijk is a Dutch-speaking city, it is very close to the border with France. This has created a large urban area that crosses language and country borders. In 2008, the mayors of Lille, Kortrijk, and Tournai signed an agreement to create the first European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation. This group helps people move easily within this area of almost 2 million people. Kortrijk is also a member of the Eurotowns network.

Kortrijk's Population

Kortrijk is home to a diverse population.

Kortrijk's Culture and Fun

Excerpt from the Kortrijks Oorlogblad of 1917. Preserved in the Ghent University Library.

Music and Artists

Kortrijk has many well-known local artists, including:

• Fapy Lafertin: A famous gypsy jazz musician.
• Goose: An electronic rock band known internationally.
• Amenra: An extreme metal band popular in Europe.
• Balthazar: An indie rock band popular in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Theatres and Concerts

The City Theatre at Schouwburgplein

Kortrijk has several places for cultural events:

• The City Theatre (De Schouwburg): A beautiful theatre known for its glass ceiling.
• Buda Arts Centre (Buda Kunstencentrum): This includes the Budascoop cinema and spaces for artists.
• Music Centre Track* and Concert venue De Kreun host music events.
• Cinemas: Kinepolis (a large multiplex) and Budascoop (specializing in European movies).

Festivals and Events

The city hosts many exciting cultural events:

• Day of the Flemish Community (July 11): Celebrates the Flemish holiday.
• Golden River City Jazz Festival (first weekend of September).
• Humorologie: A cabaret festival.
• Next: An arts festival in the Kortrijk-Lille-Tournai area.
• Easter Carnival (Paasfoor): Weeks after Easter.
• Sinxenfestival: A lively festival with street artists, concerts, and flea markets.
• Alcatraz Hard Rock & Metal Festival (August).
• Summer Carnival (August).
• Student Welcome Concert: A rock festival for university and college students.

Kortrijk also hosts big trade shows and events at the Kortrijk Xpo center, like the international Design Fair Interieur and Busworld. During July and August, you can enjoy boat tours on the Leie river.

Local Food

Don't forget to try local specialties like Kalletaart (apple cake with Calvados), Peperbollen (biscuits), and chocolate "little beguines." The town of Heule has the Picobrouwerij Alvinne brewery, and Bellegem is home to the Bockor brewery.

Fun and Recreation

Shopping in Kortrijk

The new downtown shopping centre K in Kortrijk.

Kortrijk was the first city in Belgium to have a shopping street completely free of cars (Korte Steenstraat, 1962). Now, many nearby streets are also car-free, making it one of the largest pedestrian shopping areas in Belgium.

Kortrijk also has indoor shopping malls like Ring Shopping Kortrijk Noord and K in Kortrijk. The K in Kortrijk mall opened in 2010 in the city center and has about 90 stores.

Parks and Green Spaces

The Queen Astrid park.

Kortrijk has many beautiful parks where you can relax:

• Beguinagepark
• Groeningepark: Located where the Battle of Kortrijk took place. It has the Groeningegate and the Groeninge Monument.
• King Albertpark: With the Leiemonument, which remembers the Battle of the Lys.
• Queen Astridpark
• 't Plein: A 19th-century park.
• International Rose Garden (Rozentuin).
• Stadsgroen Venning: This park even has a butterfly garden.

Sports in Kortrijk

Football

Kortrijk has a professional football club, K.V. Kortrijk, which plays in the top Belgian league. There are also other local teams like SV Kortrijk and Wikings Kortrijk (for youth).

Basketball

You can find basketball teams like Kortrijk Sport CB and Basketbalteam Kortrijk.

Cycling

Cycling is very popular in Flanders. Many professional cycling races start, finish, or pass through Kortrijk, such as Gent–Wevelgem and the Tour of Flanders. Kortrijk also hosts an event called Kortrijk Koerse after the Tour de France.

Rugby

The city has a rugby club called Rugbyclub Curtrycke.

Swimming

KZK, Kortrijkse Zwemkring, is a strong waterpolo team in Belgium. They have won the Belgian championship nine times.

Famous People from Kortrijk

Sister Cities

Kortrijk has "sister city" relationships with other cities around the world. This helps build good international friendships.

• Bad Godesberg, Germany (since 1964)
• Cebu City, Philippines (since 2005)
• Frascati, Italy (since 1967)
• Greenville, South Carolina, United States (since 1991)
• Saint-Cloud, France (since 1993)
• Lahore, Pakistan (since 1993)
• Tashkent, Uzbekistan (since the late 1980s)
• Maidenhead, United Kingdom (since 1981)
• Wuxi, China (since 2007)

Images for kids

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  Belfry of Kortrijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

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  The second castle of Kortrijk

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  The Patriapalace

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  The Saint-Martenstower

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  House in Empire style

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  The old town (The Gun Powder Tower, De Kruittoren)

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  The Groeningegate

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  Count's Chapel

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  Old houses in the historical city centre

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  The Groeninge Monument

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  The Saint-Elooi church

See also

In Spanish: Cortrique para niños