page_title: Waregem
section_title: Middle Ages
hierarchical_section_title: Waregem / History / Middle Ages
caption_attribution_description: Sint-Eloois-Vijve Sint-Eligius kerk Sint-Eligius church Sint-Eloois-Vijve, Waregem, West Flanders, Belgium
context_page_description: Waregem, sometimes known as Waereghem, is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality lies in the valley of the Leie River, between Kortrijk and Ghent. It is part of the arrondissement of Kortrijk and comprises the towns of Beveren, Desselgem, Sint-Eloois-Vijve and Waregem proper. On January 1, 2019, Waregem had a total population of 38,260. The total area is 44.34 km² which gives a population density of 863 inhabitants per km².
context_section_description: 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 of Austria in 1784.
caption: St-Eloois-Vijve Church
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