Courtrai

Courtrai, also known by its Dutch name Kortrijk, is a city and municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium, located in West Flanders on the Leie river near the border with France. It is one of the province’s larger urban centers and serves as the administrative center of the arrondissement of Kortrijk. The city has a population in the tens of thousands and functions as a regional hub for commerce, culture, and education.

Historically, Courtrai developed as a textile and cloth-trading town in the Middle Ages. It is best remembered for the Battle of the Golden Spurs near the city in 1302, a Flemish victory over French forces that became a symbol of Flemish autonomy. The historic core preserves medieval mercantile architecture, including the Lakenhalle (Cloth Hall) and surrounding guild houses around the Grote Markt. The Broel Towers along the Leie river are distinctive landmarks that anchor the city’s riverside heritage.

In modern times, Kortrijk has a diversified economy with roots in textiles, services, and manufacturing, and it hosts the Kortrijk Xpo exhibition center. The city is home to higher education institutions such as Howest, a university college of West Flanders. Kortrijk is well connected by rail and road to Ghent, Bruges, Lille, and Brussels, and is near the Kortrijk-Wevelgem International Airport. Cultural life includes museums, markets, and events that reflect its historical role as a regional trade hub.