Golden River and the flax industry

The slow current of the River Leie led to the worldwide fame of this region as an outstanding area for flax production. From here, the best quality flax was exported to all corners of the globe. The river became known by the English as the 'Golden River'.

But what lay behind the secret of the Leie water? First, its sluggish current was very important in the retting process: loosening the flax fibres from the other components of the stem. Furthermore, the river was poor both in calcium (which would have hardened the flax fibres) and in iron (which would have led to rust spots). Also important was the presence of the necessary bacteria for the retting process.

It's therefore no coincidence that the Flax Museum was established in Kortrijk.