Harelbeke

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]}

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
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.^[3]

Famous natives

• 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

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.

• 
  Harelbeke, church: the Sint-Salvatorkerk
• 
  Roundabout in Bavikhove decorated with artwork referring to (and sponsored by) the local Bavik Brewery

Twin towns

• Kinheim, Germany (1997)
• Eenhana, Namibia (2007)
• Frýdek-Místek, Czech Republic