Wervik facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wervik
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 Wervik
Location in Belgium
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| Country | Belgium | ||
| Community | Flemish Community | ||
| Region | Flemish Region | ||
| Province | West Flanders | ||
| Arrondissement | Ypres | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 43.61 km2 (16.84 sq mi) | ||
| Population
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| • Total | Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1,575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | ||
| Postal codes |
8940
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| Area codes | 056 | ||
| Website | www.wervik.be | ||
Wervik is a city and municipality in Belgium. It is located in the West Flanders province. The municipality includes the city of Wervik and the town of Geluwe.
As of January 1, 2014, Wervik had about 18,435 people. The total area is 43.61 square kilometers. This means there are about 423 people living in each square kilometer.
Wervik is well-known for its excellent tobacco. It even has a special museum about tobacco. The Lys River separates Wervik from Wervicq-Sud, which is its French neighbor.
Contents
History of Wervik
Wervik is one of the oldest towns in Belgium. It has a long and interesting past.
Early Times: Prehistory and Roman Period
People have lived in the Wervik area for a very long time. Stone Age tools like flint axes were found here. These tools show that people lived here thousands of years ago.
Later, during the Iron Age and Roman times, more people settled in Wervik. It was likely a village of the Menapians, an ancient tribe. The Romans built a stopping place here. They called the settlement Viroviacum or Virovino. It was on an important Roman road. Even today, old Roman items are found in Wervik.
Middle Ages: Growth and Challenges
In the 1200s, Wervik grew a lot. This was because of the textile trade. Textiles from Wervik were sold far away, even in the Far East.
However, Wervik faced many problems. In 1327, the city was attacked and partly destroyed. In 1382, during a big uprising, Wervik was plundered and burned. The main church, Saint Medardus, had to be rebuilt.
More fires happened in 1400 and 1436. Most houses were made of wood and straw, so fires spread easily. Wervik also suffered from the plague in 1436 and 1468. This terrible sickness greatly reduced the number of people living there.
Habsburg Netherlands: New Troubles
By the mid-1500s, Wervik was quieter, but it was not as rich as before. The population had dropped to about 3,000 people. During religious conflicts, the Saint Medardus church was damaged again.
In the 1600s, the French king Louis XIV tried to take over the region. Wervik became French in 1668, then Spanish, and then French again in 1678. These changes made the town poorer.
In 1713, a treaty divided Wervik in half. The Lys River became the border. One part was French Wervicq-Sud, and the other was Austrian Wervik. But for the people, it still felt like one town.
French Republic and Kingdom of Belgium
After the French Revolution in 1789, French armies invaded in 1794. The Saint Medardus church was burned down again. Wervik became part of a French department. This was a difficult time for the people.
In 1815, Wervik became part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Then, in 1830, the Belgian Revolution happened. Wervik became part of the new country of Belgium. Some people in nearby French towns wanted to join Belgium too, but their small uprising was stopped.
During World War I, German troops entered Wervik in October 1914. Wervik was close to the front lines. German soldiers stayed there, and wounded soldiers were cared for. The people of Wervik were forced to work in German factories. In 1917, the town was heavily bombed by British guns, and people had to leave.
Wervik was mostly rebuilt after the war. During World War II, German troops occupied Wervik again. Canadian soldiers freed the town in 1944.
Places to See
- The Saint Medardus Church is a large Gothic church. It has been rebuilt many times over the centuries.
- The National Tobacco Museum tells the story of tobacco farming in the Wervik area. This region is famous for its tobacco.
Famous People from Wervik
- Yves Leterme, who was a Prime Minister of Belgium.
- Wim Delvoye, a well-known artist.
- Ronny Coutteure, an actor.
- Joseph Demuysere, a cyclist who won the Milan–San Remo race.
- Sam Bennett, a cyclist and Irish National Champion.
- Gaston Durnez, a journalist and writer.
See also
In Spanish: Wervik para niños
