Harelbeke

The Arrondissement of Kortrijk (Dutch: Arrondissement Kortrijk; French: Arrondissement de Courtrai) is one of the eight administrative arrondissements in the Province of West Flanders, Belgium. It is both an administrative and a judicial arrondissement. However, the Judicial Arrondissement of Kortrijk also comprises most municipalities in the Arrondissement of Roeselare (except Staden, Moorslede and Lichtervelde), as well as the southernmost municipalities of the Arrondissement of Tielt: Meulebeke, Dentergem, Oostrozebeke en Wielsbeke.

Peter Benoit Huis (literally Peter Benoit House) is a museum in Harelbeke in West Flanders, Belgium. The museum is dedicated to the work of the Flemish composer and musical educational theorist Peter Benoit (1834-1901). It was founded by Paul Vandebuerie, a composer from Harelbeke and collector in large part of the collection of the museum.In 2001 the concept of the museum was newly designed to an experience museum. Benoits history is staged by five female personalities that have played a crucial role in his life. As a result his life is being told from different angles. The characters are: Rosalie Monie, his mother from whom he learned to love music; Julie Zoë Pfotzer, whom he met during his stay in Paris; Flore Wantzel, the woman he married when he returned to Brussels; Constance Teichmann, who inspired him in Antwerp for his religious work; Agnes Mertens, his love until he died.In the museum a film can be seen and music can be heart, as well from him as from his colleague composers. One of his most renown music pieces is Phantasy 3. It was played for years as the closing melody of the broadcaster BRT. Near to the museum, the little birth house of Benoit can be visited. It gives an impression of the poor circumstances in which he was born. The museum hosts also a library with a variation of works on Benoit and a collection of 4,000 folk songs.

Harelbeke railway station is in the city of Harelbeke in the Belgian province of West Flanders. It is on Line 75 between Ghent and Kortrijk and across the French border to Lille.

Kuurne (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈkyːrnə]) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises only the town of Kuurne proper. On January 1, 2006, Kuurne had a total population of 12,591. The total area is 10.01 km² which gives a population density of 1258 inhabitants per km². The Leie functions as a natural border between Kuurne and Harelbeke. Inhabitants from Kuurne are nicknamed 'donkeys'. This is said to be a term of derision given to them by the people of nearby Kortrijk because traders from Kuurne habitually set off for the Kortrijk market at an early hour, their ass-drawn carts laden with vegetables. Awoken by the rattle of the cart wheels and the braying of the asses, the people of Kortrijk exclaimed: "It's those asses from Kuurne again!" An alternative, more legendary explanation originates from the tale of a priest who had to hold a funeral on Ash Wednesday. He asked the sacrister to take over his regular service, but the latter couldn't remember the Latin words "Memento, homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris" (Remember, man, that dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return), which are to be proclaimed while applying a cross of ash to the foreheads of the churchgoers. Later the priest spoke to him in exasperation, saying: "You were born an ass, and you will die an ass!" "Aha," said the sacrister, "I'll remember that!" and so saying, he continued giving the people of Kuurne their crosses of ash. The best-known donkey in Kuurne is 'Ambroos' (Ambrose), a larger-than-life and somewhat stylised statue in front of the town hall. The winner of the annual pro road cycling race Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne received a big bouquet and a soft toy version of 'Ambroos' to wave from the stage.

The Courtrai Memorial is a Dominion of Newfoundland war memorial in Kortrijk (formerly referred to as Courtrai), Belgium that commemorates the actions of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment during the First World War when it served and fought in several campaigns in Belgium from 1916 to 1918.

Second Lieutenant Ralph Luxmore Curtis (19 March 1898 – 21 September 1917) was a World War I British flying ace credited with fifteen aerial victories. He died from wounds sustained when he engaged in aerial combat with Hermann Göring, commander of Jasta 27. The aviator was interred twice in Belgian cemeteries, and was also commemorated on the Rainham War Memorial.

Lieutenant Clement Wattson Payton (13 April 1897 – 2 October 1918) was an English World War I flying ace credited with 11 official victories.

Captain Laurence Minôt (21 July 1896 – 28 July 1917) was a British World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories, who was killed in action a week after his 21st birthday.

The Battle of the Golden Spurs (Dutch: Guldensporenslag; French: Bataille des éperons d'or) was a military confrontation between the royal army of France and rebellious forces of the County of Flanders on 11 July 1302 during the Franco-Flemish War (1297–1305). It took place near the town of Kortrijk (Courtrai) in modern-day Belgium and resulted in an unexpected victory for the Flemish. It is sometimes referred to as the Battle of Courtrai. On 18 May 1302, after two years of French military occupation and several years of unrest, many cities in Flanders revolted against French rule, and the local militia massacred many Frenchmen in the city of Bruges. King Philip IV of France immediately organized an expedition of 8,000 troops, including 2,500 men-at-arms, under Count Robert II of Artois to put down the rebellion. Meanwhile, 9,400 men from the civic militias of several Flemish cities were assembled to counter the expected French attack. When the two armies met outside the city of Kortrijk on 11 July, the cavalry charges of the mounted French men-at-arms proved unable to defeat the mail-armoured and well-trained Flemish militia infantry's pike formation. The result was a rout of the French nobles, who suffered heavy losses at the hands of the Flemish. The 500 pairs of spurs that were captured from the French horsemen gave the battle its popular name. The battle was a famous early example of an all-infantry army overcoming an army that depended on the shock attacks of heavy cavalry. While France was victorious in the overall Franco-Flemish War, the Battle of the Golden Spurs became an important cultural reference point for the Flemish Movement during the 19th and 20th centuries. In 1973, the date of the battle was chosen for the official holiday of the Flemish Community in Belgium. A 1985 film called De leeuw van Vlaanderen (The Lion of Flanders) shows the battle, and the politics that led up to it.

The Groeninge Monument is a monument in the Belgian city of Kortrijk. The gilded statue was inaugurated to commemorate the 600th anniversary of the Battle of the Golden Spurs. The statue is situated in the Groeningepark, where during the Middle Ages the Groeninge battlefield was situated. In this park one can also find the Groeningegate, a triumphal arch, which gives access to the park. The Groeninge Monument was designed by sculptor Godfried Devreese. It was planned to be inaugurated in 1902, but was not ready until 1906, when it was unveiled on 5 August. The gilded statue represents the Virgin of Flanders, who holds aloft a spear whilst holding in the other the Flemish Lion.

Hulste is a village in the Belgian province of West Flanders. Hulste has 3456 inhabitants (2008) and an area of 7.86 km2. It fused in 1977 to become part of the city of Harelbeke.

The Groeningepoort is a monument in the Belgian city of Kortrijk. The triumphal arch was built to commemorate the 600th anniversary of the Battle of the Golden Spurs and gives access to the Groeningepark, where during the Middle Ages the Groeninge battlefield was situated. In this park you can also find the golden Groeninge Monument. The Groeningepoort was erected in 1908 and has the inscription 1302 – Groeningheveld.