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
EuropeBelgiumFlanders
Kuurne
Flanders, Belgium · Europe
About Kuurne
Kuurne is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Hulste, 38km from Gravensteen.
Kuurne is in Flanders, Belgium, with about 13,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Hulste, about 4 km away.
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.
Where to Stay in Kuurne
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Kuurne.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Kuurne.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Kuurne?
Within an hour or so of Kuurne: Menin Gate (27 km), Vieux Lille (28 km), In Flanders Fields Museum (28 km), Ghent (38 km).
Are there any good drives near Kuurne?
The nearest famous roads are Koninklijke Baan Coast Road, Brouwersdam and Chimay Street Circuit.
Where is Kuurne?
Kuurne is in Flanders, Belgium, about 4 km from Hulste.
Road trip
Drive to Kuurne
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Kuurne. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 12,638
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Belgium
- Region
- Flanders
- Timezone
- Europe/Brussels
- Coordinates
- 50.8514, 3.2824
Tags
Worth the detour from Kuurne
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Vieux Lille
Lively old quarter of Flemish brick gables and grand squares, the cultural capital of the French north.
28 km · about 30 min drive
museum
In Flanders Fields 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
Ghent
Vibrant medieval Flemish city with stunning canal-side architecture, the Gravensteen castle, and the famous Ghent Altarpiece.
38 km · about 45 min drive
castle
Gravensteen
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
Saint Bavo's Cathedral Ghent
This Gothic cathedral guards the Van Eyck brothers' luminous Ghent Altarpiece, a landmark of European painting.
38 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
Bruges Markt
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
Café Vlissinghe
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
Driving roads near Kuurne
- 50 kmKoninklijke Baan Coast RoadThe N34 'Royal Road' hugs nearly the whole Belgian coast, sharing its corridor with the world's longest tram line and passing Belle Epoque De Haan, dunes and beach resorts.
- 68 kmWestern Scheldt TunnelAt 6.6 km the longest road tunnel in the Netherlands, diving under the busy Western Scheldt shipping lane to link Zeeland with Zeelandic Flanders since 2003.
- 68 kmWesterscheldetunnelTolled 6.6-kilometre road tunnel under the Western Scheldt linking Zeelandic Flanders to Zuid-Beveland, replacing two ferries.
Driving in Belgium
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.74/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Kuurne.
Plan a trip around Kuurne
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Kuurne.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.