Goedendag!
Don't be frightened by the pair of half-naked, war-like giants who are leaning against the shield of Kortrijk with their clubs in hand. The present-day people of Kortrijk are a far more decent and peaceful sort. These wild men stand for vigilance, strength and militancy: all virtues that have made Kortrijk a remarkable city.
The Battle of the Golden Spurs
Ever since its origin as a Roman settlement called Cortoriacum, Kortrijk has certainly had to endure a lot over the ages. Nevertheless, its inhabitants have survived numerous invasions and occupations with great dignity. No wonder that Kortrijk proudly calls itself the Groeninge City; a title taken from the Battle of the Golden Spurs on 11 July 1302. It was then, on the Groeninge fields, that amateur troops of lightly armed Flemish civilians defeated a heavily armoured cavalry of professional French knights considered unconquerable at that time. More than seven centuries later, this victory continues to be honoured by lots of festivities. The Battle of the Golden Spurs, after all, was the foundation for the Flemish fight for liberation.
1302
In 2006 the museum ‘Kortrijk 1302 - Seven Centuries in One Day' was opened to the public. The site of this multimedia museum also accommodates the Regional Visitors Centre for Kortrijk and the Leie region.
Historical heritage
Today the Middle Ages are still visible with the sturdy Broel Towers and the Belfry, the sober Beguinage, and the impressive Our Lady's Church and Saint Martin's Church. Together with the late Gothic Town Hall, the Baggaertshof, the Hospital of Our Lady and the numerous monuments, they form the pearls of Kortrijk's art-historical heritage.
Economy
After the Middle Ages, the city on the Leie had a leading roll in the linen and damask industry and from the 18th century began to enjoy world fame as a centre for flax. Today, textiles still provide lots of work in the Leie region. Thanks to the creative entrepreneurship of its people, Kortrijk has come to be the economic heart of south-west Flanders. As a shopping paradise too, Kortrijk maintains a high reputation. Indeed, at the end of 2009, a large commercial and residential complex will be opened in the city centre. Furthermore, the Groeninge City also scores highly in the area of culture, with fascinating museums, dynamic cultural centres, well-attended events and a healthy number of associations.
Take it all in!
Kortrijk and its people warmly welcome you!
