Kortrijk
About this Place
Kortrijk is a historic city on the River Leie in West Flanders, close to the French border. Long associated with the textile trade, it is perhaps best known in Belgian history for the Battle of the Golden Spurs, fought nearby in 1302.
The city also has a notable brewing connection. Bellegem, now part of the municipality of Kortrijk, has been home to Brouwerij Omer Vander Ghinste since 1892. The brewery’s history also reaches into the centre of Kortrijk through Brasserie LeFort, established there in 1854. Brewing at LeFort later ceased and its activities were transferred to Bellegem, but the name survives in the brewery’s LeFort beers.
Visitor notes
Kortrijk’s historic centre includes its medieval Broel Towers, picturesque beguinage and belfry, while the redeveloped banks of the Leie give the city a more contemporary character. Texture explores the importance of flax and the linen industry to Kortrijk and the wider Leie region.
Brouwerij Omer Vander Ghinste can be visited in Bellegem by advance booking. Its visitor centre tells the story of the family brewery, including the famous stained-glass café windows that helped establish the Omer name.