Editing Waregem

{{Infobox Belgium municipality
|name             = Waregem
|native_name      = {{native name|vls|Woaregem}}
|type             = city
|picture          = H.H. Amandus en Blasius - Waregem.jpg
|picture-legend   = City parish church located on the marketplace
|map              = Waregem West-Flanders Belgium Map.svg
|map-legend       = Location of Waregem in West-Flanders
|arms             = Waregem wapen.svg
|flag             = Waregem vlag.svg
|region           = {{BE-REG-FLE}}
|community        = {{BE-NL}}
|province         = {{BE-PROV-WV}}
|arrondissement   = [[Arrondissement of Kortrijk|Kortrijk]]
|nis              = 34040
|pyramid-date     =
|0-19=
|20-64=
|65=
|foreigners=
|foreigners-date  =
|mayor            = Kristof Chanterie  
|majority         = [[Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams|CD&V]]
|postal-codes     = 8790-8793
|telephone-area   = 056
|web              = [http://www.waregem.be/ www.waregem.be]
|coordinates      = {{coord|50|53|N|03|25|E|region:BE|display=inline,title}}
}}

'''Waregem''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈʋaːrəɣɛm|lang|Nl-Waregem.ogg}}; {{langx|vls|Woaregem}} {{IPA|vls|ˈβɒːrəɦæm|}}), spelled '''Waereghem''' before, is a [[Municipalities of Belgium|municipality]] and [[City status in Belgium|city]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wet tot toekenning van de titel van stad aan de gemeenten Genk, Mortsel, Seraing en Waregem |url=https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/eli/wet/1999/06/23/1999000594/staatsblad |date=23 June 1999 |lang=nl |website=www.ejustice.just.fgov.be |publisher=[[Belgian Official Gazette]] |access-date=28 February 2025}}</ref> located in the [[Belgium|Belgian]] [[Provinces of Belgium|province]] of [[West Flanders]]. The municipality lies in the valley of the river [[Lys (river)|Lys]], between [[Kortrijk]] and [[Ghent]].  It is part of the administrative district of Kortrijk and comprises the towns of Beveren, Desselgem, Sint-Eloois-Vijve and Waregem proper.  On January 1, 2024, Waregem had a total population of 39,970.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Over Waregem |url=https://www.waregem.be/over-waregem |lang=nl |website=www.waregem.be |access-date=12 March 2025}}</ref> The total area is 44.34&nbsp;km² which gives a [[population density]] of 901 inhabitants per km².

==History==

===Origins===
The first inhabitants of this forested region settled along the [[Leie]] well before [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] times.  Bronze coins and artifacts associated with the [[Gallo-Roman culture]] show extensive activity in this area in the first centuries of our era.  This is not surprising given the fact that Sint-Eloois-Vijve stood at the intersection of two important Roman roads: [[Cassel, France|Cassel]]-[[Tongeren]] and [[Bavai]]-[[Oudenburg]].  The name of the current municipality refers to a certain “Waro” clan or tribe, possibly dating from the [[Franks|Frankish]] period.

===Middle Ages===
[[Image:Sint-Eloois-Vijve Sint-Eligius kerk-1.JPG|thumb|left|St-Eloois-Vijve Church]]

In the 10th century, most of Waregem's territory was given as a grant to the St Peter Abbey in [[Ghent]].  The local administrative center used by the [[Benedictines]] along the [[Leie River]] can still be seen today and is still known as the ''Munkenhof.''  At the end of the century, [[Baldwin IV, Count of Flanders]], made this area the base from which he could advance against [[Kortrijk]].  During the following centuries, the medieval feudal system allowed the land to be progressively parceled out to landowners from places as far as [[Dendermonde]] and [[Tournai]].  At that time, like in the rest of Flanders, most of the population consisted of farmers, spinners and weavers.  Tax documents from the 13th century attest to the strong economic activity of the time.  Waregem's attempt in 1635 at obtaining rights to hold its own market was opposed by the neighbouring towns.  A Saturday market was finally approved by [[Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor|Joseph II of Austria]] in 1784.

===From the 18th century until today===
Much of the medieval land ownership structure remained unchanged until the end of the 18th century, when the town counted some 4,500 inhabitants. The construction of the main roadway between Kortrijk and Ghent made possible the building of an important coaching inn on the territory of Waregem, where horses could be hired. The [[French Revolution]] brought severe religious restrictions in its wake; it also gave the region a modern administrative system and more political autonomy. During the 19th century, the old textile economy went into decline. The proximity of the Leie River, however, was a boon for Waregem, as its [[flax]] industry drove the local economy until well into the 20th century. Waregem earned its official city title on January 1, 2000.

==Main sights==
[[Image:Flanders Field American Cemetery and Memorial.jpg|thumb|Flanders Field American Cemetery and Memorial]]

* The [[Flanders Field American Cemetery and Memorial]] is the smallest [[World War I]] American cemetery in Europe and the only one in Belgium. It is located on the southeast edge of town and is the burial place for 368 American military who died during the liberation of [[Belgium]] in World War I. The chapel is inscribed with the names of 43 [[Missing in Action]] whose remains were never recovered or identified.
* The [[hippodroom Waregem|Gaverbeekhippodroom]] is one of the few hippodromes in Belgium.

==Sports and events==
[[File:Regenboogstadion 2.0.jpg|thumb|[[Regenboogstadion]]]]
*Waregem is well known for its annual horse races at the local [[Hippodroom Waregem|hippodrome]], including the [[steeplechase (horse racing)|Great Flanders Steeple Chase]], which takes place the first Tuesday after the last Sunday of August.  In the local language this week-long event, dating from 1847, is known as the ''Waregem Koerse.''
*Waregem is notable in the UK for a prominent position in the song; "Ordinary to Enschede" by Half Man Half Biscuit.
*Waregem is the hometown of former football team [[K.S.V. Waregem]] and present team [[S.V. Zulte-Waregem]].
*The town is the finish of the classic [[Dwars door Vlaanderen]] ({{langx|en|Across Flanders}}) [[road bicycle race]].  It also was the departure of the third stage of the [[2007 Tour de France]], going from Waregem to [[Compiègne]].
*The [[Cyclocross Masters]], the final round of the [[cyclo-cross]] season, has been hosted by Waregem since 2013.
*Waregem is home to [[rugbyclub Waereghem]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rugbyclub Waereghem |url=https://www.rugbyclubwaregem.be/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=Rugbyclub Waereghem |language=nl}}</ref>

==Famous inhabitants==
[[Image:Hooiberg by emile claus.jpg|thumb|''Haystacks'' by [[Emile Claus]]]]
*[[Aborted]], [[Death Metal]] band (b. 1995)
*[[Emile Claus]], [[Painting|painter]] (1849–1924)
*[[Ann Demeulemeester]], [[fashion designer]] (b. 1959)
*[[Erik Derycke (politician)|Erik Derycke]], [[politician]], [[lawyer]], and former [[minister (government)|minister]] (b. 1949)
*[[Dick Norman]], [[tennis]] player (b. 1971)
*[[Jan Pieter Schotte]], [[cardinal (Catholicism)|cardinal]] and official of the [[Roman Curia]] (1928–2005)
*[[Franky Vandendriessche]], [[soccer|football]] [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] (b. 1971)
*[[Peter Vermeersch]], [[composer]], [[clarinet]] player, and [[record producer|producer]] (b. 1959)
*[[Marc Waelkens]], professor of [[archaeology]] (b. 1948)

==Twin cities==
[[Image:Stadhuis van Waregem - België.jpg|thumb|Waregem City Hall]]
*{{flagicon|RWA}} [[Ngarama]], Rwanda
*{{flagicon|HUN}} [[Szekszárd]], Hungary

=== Euro Equus ===

* {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Jerez de la Frontera|Jerez]], Spain
* {{flagicon|CZE}} [[Pardubice]], Czech Republic
* {{flagicon|PRT}} [[Golegã]], Portugal
* {{flagicon|POL}} [[Wrocław]], Poland (since 2015)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website|http://www.waregem.be }} {{in lang|nl|en|fr|de}}
* {{cite web | title=World War I Flanders Field American Cemetery and Memorial | work=American Battle Monuments Commission | url=http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/ff.php | access-date=January 17, 2006 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060211134023/http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/ff.php | archive-date=February 11, 2006 }}

{{Geographic location
|Centre = Waregem
|North     = [[Wielsbeke]]
|Northeast = [[Zulte]] ([[East Flanders|VOV]])
|East      = [[Kruishoutem]] ([[East Flanders|VOV]])
|Southeast = [[Wortegem-Petegem]] ([[East Flanders|VOV]])
|South     = [[Deerlijk]], [[Anzegem]]
|West      = [[Harelbeke]]
}}
{{Municipalities in West Flanders}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Waregem| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of West Flanders]]