Kortrijk
Belgium
The creativity of Kortrijk is embedded in the DNA of the city and its inhabitants. Kortrijk is part of the prestigious UNESCO Creative Cities Network. It consists of cities that use creativity as a driver for sustainable development. Kortrijk belongs to the select group of cities that excel in the field of design and, more broadly, in design thinking.
A paradise for culture lovers
It’s easy to see why Kortrijk is a favourite destination for culture lovers.
Music lovers are well catered for, with a lively scene centred around venues like Music Centre Track and Wilde Westen. Both indoor and outdoor festivals such as Sonic City, Jazz Cats and Festival Kortrijk attract music fans from near and far.
Museum enthusiasts can explore several museums on a daily basis, including Texture, Abby and Museum 1302 or you visit the internationally renownend Triënnale of Kortrijk.
Film lovers will feel right at home at arthouse cinema Budascoop, which presents a carefully curated selection of films to an audience of more than 70,000 visitors each year.
The Grand Theatre of Kortrijk is one of the oldest theatres in Belgium and, following its renovation (2024–2026), is set to become the most accessible theatre venue in the country.
Dive into the programme of the professional cultural organisations in the city: Theater Antigone, With vzw, NEXT Arts Festival, Passerelle, Avansa Mid- en Zuidwest, Reveil, …
On top of that, Kortrijk is known for its vibrant youth culture. Places like Bolwerk, Wildebras, LZSB, De Stroate and Quindo nurture the creative minds that shape the cultural sector of the future.
Always something to experience
A city of 80,000 inhabitants: an urban village that offers the charm of a village combined with the vibrancy of a city.
The creative vibe that characterises Kortrijk is reflected in its fashionable shopping spots popping up across the city, its many top restaurants (featured in the Gault&Millau and Michelin guides), its brewery scene with both local and internationally renowned beers, and its lively public spaces.
ECOC
Kortrijk applied to become ECoC 2030 with the bid Just DURF!. It was an open invitation to everyone in Kortrijk and the wider region to work together through arts and culture towards a more resilient future. Mental wellbeing was the central theme of the bid.
DURF
DURF was created in 2020 as part of Kortrijk’s European Capital of Culture ambitions. It focuses on stimulating cultural, youth and cross‑sector creativity, building bridges between the city’s vibrant local landscape and ongoing societal changes.
From 2025 onwards, DURF operates with a strong project team and an independent financial structure through a city foundation. This foundation supports cultural ideas, initiatives and organisations, while actively connecting Kortrijk with the region, Flanders and Europe. In doing so, DURF continues to stimulate and strengthen the cultural and youth landscape and has a long lasting impact on our creative city.
