Discover Harelbeke: Water, Trails and History

Harelbeke combines waterscapes, striking buildings and routes through the city and its surroundings. Those looking for a holiday apartment can plan their stay around different interests: at the De Gavers recreational area, nature observation and activities on the water are the focus, while churches, mills, museums and historic routes offer insights into the history of the town.

De Gavers and the Gavermeer

De Gavers offers several specific ways to discover the landscape. A bee site, bird-watching huts and an arboretum each provide a different focus. The Gaverput walking route is 4.7 km long, making it a shorter route to include in your travel plans. There is a designated swimming area at Gavermeer; you can also go kayaking there. This allows walks, nature observation and time by the water to be combined during a single stay.

The Koutermolen is also part of the history of this recreational area. It was erected in 1986 on an artificial mound in the provincial recreational area “De Gavers”. Those who like to combine nature and culture when choosing their accommodation will find not only landscape experiences here, but also a technical and historical detail to discover.

Churches, Mills and the History of the Town

The Sint-Salvator parish church is an 18th-century church based on a design by the architect L. Dewez. It preserves the crossing tower and transept of the Romanesque church from the 12th century. Sint-Salvatorkerk also features a neoclassical architectural style, a marble interior and a Romanesque tower. The building therefore offers several historical and architectural layers to explore on a cultural walk.

The Muizelmolen is a stone gallery windmill built in 1840 on the site of an older wooden mill. It is protected as a listed monument; the protection dates from 14 April 1944. At De Roterij, a guided tour explains the development of the watermill dating from 1128 and the processing of flax. The visit ends with a tour of the host’s artworks, including sculptures and paintings.

For the history of the town, the Heritage Walk takes you through the city centre and explains notable buildings using information panels. Harelbeke’s Erfgoedapp uses old photographs to show what the present-day urban surroundings looked like in the past. It also includes a route following in the footsteps of the First World War, leading to several sites in Harelbeke connected with wartime events.

Routes for Different Days of Travel

The Peter Benoit cycling route is 27 km long and begins at the Peter Benoit monument in Harelbeke’s city park on Stationsstraat. The Peter Benoit Huis tells the story of the composer Peter Benoit (1834–1901); his birthplace conveys the living conditions of a family in the 19th century. A shorter walking option is the Gaverput route, at 4.7 km. The signposted Oude Leie walk, covering 10.8 km, runs from Bavikhove along the Oude Leie arm to the three-step lock at Ooigem and Desselgem.

The Oude Leie arm in Bavikhove is an area where you can go for a walk. In winter, it is a well-known resting place for various species of ducks and herons. Moleneiland in Harelbeke is a waterside location where cyclists and walkers can take a break.

Local Insights and Travel Planning

At De Brabandere, individual visitors and groups of fewer than 20 people can join a visit by reservation on Wednesday afternoon. The price includes a tasting. This offer complements the historical and landscape experiences with a culinary activity. The Harlebeke New British Cemetery commemorates, with its graves, mainly fallen soldiers from Northern Ireland of the 36th (Ulster) Division who died after 16 October 1918 and were transferred to Harelbeke in 1920. In 1924, graves from more than forty German cemeteries in the Ypres Salient were added.

Harelbeke is therefore suitable for a trip where you do not want to visit just one attraction. Water, nature, cycling and walking routes, architecture, remembrance culture and local history can be combined in different ways depending on your focus. A holiday apartment in Harelbeke can serve as a base for your personal mix of active routes, cultural discoveries and quieter moments by the water.

For further orientation, you can also visit Doomkerke, Staden, Pittem, Dentergem, Zedelgem, Deerlijk and Houthulst.

For the broader travel overview: West Flanders.