Wervik, Belgium

Welcome to Wervik, a historic city and municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. With a total population of 18,435, Wervik is a charming destination that offers visitors a glimpse into Belgium’s rich cultural heritage. The town is separated from its French counterpart Wervicq-Sud by the river Lys, and is famous for its excellent tobacco and tobacco museum. Join us as we explore the history, sights, and famous people of Wervik.

History:
Wervik is one of the oldest towns in Belgium, with Stone Age artefacts, flint axes and spearheads, found in the district of Bas-Flanders and the site Oosthove. The Roman settlement was registered on Roman road maps from the 3rd to 4th century under the name Viroviacum or Virovino. In the 13th century, the population of Belgium rose sharply, thanks to the great heyday of the textile trade which penetrated international markets up to the Far East. During the Ghent uprising of 1382, Wervik was an outpost of the army of Philip van Artevelde during the Battle of Westrozebeke. In the middle of the 16th century, a quieter period began for Wervik. After the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the town became part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands until the Belgian Revolution in 1830. During World War I, German troops entered the town on October 5, 1914. Wervik was largely rebuilt after the war. During the Second World War, Wervik was again occupied by German troops, until the inhabitants were freed in 1944 by Canadian soldiers.

Sights:
The Saint-Medardus church is a massive gothic church that still bears the traces of the iconoclastic. The National tobacco museum is a must-visit attraction for those interested in the region’s tobacco farms.

Famous people who were born in Wervik:
Yves Leterme, Prime Minister of Belgium; Wim Delvoye, artist; Ronny Coutteure, actor; Joseph Demuysere, cyclist, winner of Milan–San Remo; Sam Bennett, cyclist, Irish National Champion 2019; Gaston Durnez, journalist and writer.

Come and discover the hidden treasures of Wervik, Belgium’s historic gem!