Wevelgem

History

The earliest known mention dates from 1197. Wevelgem was home to the Cistercian From c. 1278 to 1310, abbess Ida was in charge, though Marc Brion lists it as an abbey for men.

In the old days, the river De Leie was important for Wevelgem. The people used the river to soak flax, before they processed it in one of the many flax factories in Wevelgem. That is also the reason De Leie got the nickname The Golden River, referring to the colour of the flax. Because selling flax was lucrative, many people came to Wevelgem and stayed there for many generations. Nowadays, the cultivation of flax is less important, but some factories still process it.

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, who 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 railway. The bridge that connects Lauwe to Wevelgem was destroyed during the Second World War and was rebuilt later.

Notable people

• Annelien Coorevits, Miss Belgium 2007
• Justine De Jonckheere, Miss Belgium 2011
• Steak Number Eight, rock band founded in 2007, broke through in the same year
• Dag Otto Lauritzen, Norwegian former cyclist, lived in Gullegem whilst active
• Aagje Vanwalleghem, gymnast, qualified for the finals of the Olympic Games 2004
• Steven Vanackere, (Dutch: [ˈsteːvə(n) vɑnˈɑkərə]), Flemish politician was born in Wevelgem
• Jean-Claude Van Geenberghe, Belgian-Ukrainian equestrian lived in Moorsele
• Camille Dhont, Belgian singer and actress born in Wevelgem

Gallery

Image:Wevelgem - Sint-Theresia.jpg|Sint-Theresia's Church near Wevelgem. File:Abdij van Wevelgem - 1641.jpg|Guldenberg Abbey of Wevelgem in 1641. File:Moorsele - Military Cemetery 1.jpg|Military cemetery in Moorsele.

References

References

1. Kortrijk, Geschied- en Oudheidkundige Kring van. "Handelingen".
2. Warlop, E.. (1976). "The Flemish Nobility Before 1300: Historical study. v. 1, Text. v. 2, Notes". G. Desmet-Huysman.
3. Brion, Marc. (2010). "Het archeologische onderzoek in Belgische Cistercienzerinnencontexten, een vergelijkende studie". Novi Monasterii.