landmark
Menin Gate
A vast memorial arch bearing 54,000 names of the missing, where the Last Post sounds every evening at eight.
27 km · about 30 min drive
Flanders, Belgium · Europe
Kuurne is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Hulste, 38km from Gravensteen.
Kuurne is a town located in Flanders, Belgium. With a population of 12,638, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Kuurne sits in Belgium, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Brussels time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Kuurne to your route.
Kuurne (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈkyːrnə]) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises only the town of Kuurne proper. On January 1, 2006, Kuurne had a total population of 12,591. The total area is 10.01 km2 which gives a population density of 1258 inhabitants per km2.Read more
The Leie functions as a natural border between Kuurne and Harelbeke.
Inhabitants from Kuurne are nicknamed 'donkeys'. This is said to be a term of derision given to them by the people of nearby Kortrijk because traders from Kuurne habitually set off for the Kortrijk market at an early hour, their ass-drawn carts laden with vegetables. Awoken by the rattle of the cart wheels and the braying of the asses, the people of Kortrijk exclaimed: "It's those asses from Kuurne again!"
An alternative, more legendary explanation originates from the tale of a priest who had to hold a funeral on Ash Wednesday. He asked the sacrister to take over his regular service, but the latter couldn't remember the Latin words "Memento, homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris" (Remember, man, that dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return), which are to be proclaimed while applying a cross of ash to the foreheads of the churchgoers. Later the priest spoke to him in exasperation, saying: "You were born an ass, and you will die an ass!" "Aha," said the sacrister, "I'll remember that!" and so saying, he continued giving the people of Kuurne their crosses of ash.
The best-known donkey in Kuurne is 'Ambroos' (Ambrose), a larger-than-life and somewhat stylised statue in front of the town hall. The winner of the annual pro road cycling race Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne received a big bouquet and a soft toy version of 'Ambroos' to wave from the stage.
At 50.87257 N 3.26302 E, there was a mediumwave transmitter of BRT, which worked on 1188 kHz with a power of 5 kW.
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Kuurne offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Kuurne is located in Flanders, Belgium, Europe. The coordinates are 50.8514 latitude, 3.2824 longitude.
Kuurne has a population of approximately 12,638 people, making it a town in Belgium.
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8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
A vast memorial arch bearing 54,000 names of the missing, where the Last Post sounds every evening at eight.
27 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Lively old quarter of Flemish brick gables and grand squares, the cultural capital of the French north.
28 km · about 30 min drive
museum
Set in Ypres' rebuilt Cloth Hall, this museum tells the harrowing story of the WWI Western Front trenches.
28 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Vibrant medieval Flemish city with stunning canal-side architecture, the Gravensteen castle, and the famous Ghent Altarpiece.
38 km · about 45 min drive
castle
A grim moated stone castle of the Counts of Flanders rising straight from the canals in the centre of Ghent.
38 km · about 45 min drive
cathedral
This Gothic cathedral guards the Van Eyck brothers' luminous Ghent Altarpiece, a landmark of European painting.
38 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
The medieval heart of Bruges, where the climbable Belfry tower looms over a square of stepped-gable guild houses.
40 km · about 45 min drive
cafe
Bruges tavern serving continuously since 1515: likely Belgium's oldest café, with a Flemish Renaissance interior, a stove-warmed main room and a boules garden out back; Van Dyck is said to have paid in paintings.
40 km · about 45 min drive
April to October
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