Wevelgem
Encyclopedia
Wevelgem is a municipality
located in the Belgian
province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Gullegem, Moorsele and Wevelgem proper. On January 1, 2006 Wevelgem had a total population of 31,020. The total area is 38.76 km² which gives a population density
of 800 inhabitants per km².
You can reach easily Wevelgem by car (E403 - A19 - R8 ), by boat (De Leie), by air (Kortrijk-Wevelgem International Airport
) or by train.
Wevelgem is known for the annual Gent–Wevelgem bicycle road race
which finishes in the town.
In the old days, the river De Leie used to be very important for Wevelgem. The people used the river to soak flax
, before they processed it in one of the many flaxfactories in Wevelgem. That is also the reason De Leie got the nickname The Golden River, referring to the color of the flax. Because you could earn lots of money with flax, many people came to Wevelgem and stayed there for many generations. Nowadays, the cultivation of flax ain’t that important anymore, but there are still some factories where they cultivate flax.
During the First World War, the Germans constructed an airport. The airport still exists and is now used for private purposes. Also remaining is the German Military cemetery, which is also partly situated in Menen
. There are 47.864 soldiers buried there, they all died during WW1. This makes the cemetery the biggest German cemetery in Belgium. Across the cemetery, there used to be a (fake) airport, with wooden planes to mislead the enemy; there are still remains of the airport consisting of a big bunker and a small bunker near the railroad. The bridge that connect Lauwe to Wevelgem was destroyed during the Second World War and was rebuilt later.
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
located in the Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Gullegem, Moorsele and Wevelgem proper. On January 1, 2006 Wevelgem had a total population of 31,020. The total area is 38.76 km² which gives a population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 800 inhabitants per km².
You can reach easily Wevelgem by car (E403 - A19 - R8 ), by boat (De Leie), by air (Kortrijk-Wevelgem International Airport
Kortrijk-Wevelgem International Airport
Kortrijk-Wevelgem International Airport is located in Belgium, partly in the town of Wevelgem and also in Bissegem, a part of the city of Kortrijk. It is mainly used as a business airport. One of the main users of this airport is Abelag Aviation, though it is also used by flying clubs and schools...
) or by train.
Wevelgem is known for the annual Gent–Wevelgem bicycle road race
Road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing is a bicycle racing sport held on roads, using racing bicycles. The term "road racing" is usually applied to events where competing riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first to the line at the end of the course .Historically, the most...
which finishes in the town.
History
The earliest known mention dates from 1197.In the old days, the river De Leie used to be very important for Wevelgem. The people used the river to soak flax
Flax
Flax is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. It is native to the region extending from the eastern Mediterranean to India and was probably first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent...
, before they processed it in one of the many flaxfactories in Wevelgem. That is also the reason De Leie got the nickname The Golden River, referring to the color of the flax. Because you could earn lots of money with flax, many people came to Wevelgem and stayed there for many generations. Nowadays, the cultivation of flax ain’t that important anymore, but there are still some factories where they cultivate flax.
During the First World War, the Germans constructed an airport. The airport still exists and is now used for private purposes. Also remaining is the German Military cemetery, which is also partly situated in Menen
Menen
Menen is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Menen proper and the towns of Lauwe and Rekkem. The city is situated on the French/Belgian border. On January 1, 2006, Menen had a total population of 32,413...
. There are 47.864 soldiers buried there, they all died during WW1. This makes the cemetery the biggest German cemetery in Belgium. Across the cemetery, there used to be a (fake) airport, with wooden planes to mislead the enemy; there are still remains of the airport consisting of a big bunker and a small bunker near the railroad. The bridge that connect Lauwe to Wevelgem was destroyed during the Second World War and was rebuilt later.
Notable people
- Annelien CoorevitsAnnelien CoorevitsAnnelien Coorevits is Miss Belgium 2007. She represented her country in Miss Universe 2007 but didn't place. She lives in Wijtschate.- References :...
: Miss Belgium 2007 - Justine De JonckheereJustine De JonckheereJustine De Jonckheere is a Belgian beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Belgium 2011 and will represent her country in the 2011 Miss Universe and Miss World pageants.-Early life:...
: Miss Belgium 2011 - Steak Number EightSteak Number EightSteak Number Eight is a post-metal/sludge metal band based in Wevelgem, Belgium. Their music is a combination of post-rock and sludge metal, and is influenced by bands like Pelican, Isis, Sunn O))) and Amen Ra.- Career :...
: Rockband founded in 2007, broke through in the same year - Aagje Vanwalleghem: Gymnaste, qualified for the finals of the Olympic Games 2004
External links
- Official website - Available only in DutchDutch languageDutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...