Harelbeke (Dutch: [ˈɦaːrəlˌbeːkə]; West Flemish: Oarlbeke) is a municipality and city^[2] located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Harelbeke proper and the towns of Bavikhove and Hulste. On January 1, 2019, Harelbeke had a total population of 28,447. The total area is 29.14 km² which gives a population density of 898 inhabitants per km². Inhabitants consider their hometown to be a "Weireldstad" (metropolis), which also led to a monthly "Harelbekedag" amongst the students of Harelbeke studying in Ghent.^{[citation needed]}

In Harelbeke a museum remembers the life and work of musician and composer Peter Benoit, called the Peter Benoit Huis.^[3]

• Andreas Pevernage (1542/1543 – 1591), composer of the late Renaissance
• Jacobus Vaet (1529-1567), Renaissance composer, possibly born in Harelbeke
• Armand Coeck (1941 - 2024), avant-garde composer
• Jan Bucquoy (1945 - ), anarchist and film-maker (Camping Cosmos)
• Peter Benoit, composer
• Wim Opbrouck, actor and singer

This cemetery is located just outside the downtown of Harelbeke and was designed by Willian Harrison Cowlishaw^[4] and contains the graves of 1126 Commonwealth soldiers who died during WWI (1055 from the UK, 26 from Canada, 7 from Australia, 4 from South Africa and 3 from Newfoundland). In addition 10 British soldiers who died during WWII are buried here.

Harelbeke has, since 1958, been the start and finish place of the E3 Harelbeke, a semi classic cycling race held the week before the Tour of Flanders.

• 👁 Harelbeke, church: the Sint-Salvatorkerk
  
  Harelbeke, church: the Sint-Salvatorkerk
• 👁 Roundabout in Bavikhove decorated with artwork referring to (and sponsored by) the local Bavik Brewery
  
  Roundabout in Bavikhove decorated with artwork referring to (and sponsored by) the local Bavik Brewery

• 👁 Germany
  Kinheim, Germany (1997)
• 👁 Namibia
  Eenhana, Namibia (2007)
• 👁 Czech Republic
  Frýdek-Místek, Czech Republic

• Official website - Available only in Dutch
• all about the town of Hulste - Available only in Dutch