Roeselare

Roeselare
Municipality
Market square with town hall
Flag Coat of arms
Roeselare Location in Belgium
Location of Roeselare in West Flanders
Coordinates: 50°56′N 03°07′E / 50.933°N 3.117°E / 50.933; 3.117Coordinates: 50°56′N 03°07′E / 50.933°N 3.117°E / 50.933; 3.117
Country	Belgium
Community	Flemish Community
Region	Flemish Region
Province	West Flanders
Arrondissement	Roeselare
Government
• Mayor	Kris Declercq (CD&V)
• Governing party/ies	CD&V, sp.a, Groen
Area
• Total	59.79 km2 (23.09 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2016)
• Total	60,999
• Density	1,000/km2 (2,600/sq mi)
Postal codes	8800
Area codes	051
Website	www.roeselare.be

Roeselare (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈrusəlaːrə], French: Roulers, West Flemish: Roeseloare) is a Belgian city and municipality in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Roeselare proper and the towns of Beveren, Oekene and Rumbeke.

The name of the city is derived from two Germanic words meaning "reed" and "open space", i.e., a marsh in a forest glade. Roeselare's minor seminary is famous for having hosted the famous Flemish poets Guido Gezelle, Albrecht Rodenbach and missionary Jesuit Constant Lievens. The city is also home to the Rodenbach brewery.

Traces of early dwellings have been found in the area, including prehistoric flint tools, Gallo-Roman wells, and a small 9th century Frankish building. The first mention of Roslar dates from a document dated 821 or 822, whereby the former domain of the Menapii, also called the Rollare villa in later documents, was given to Elnon Abbey. According to legend, Baldwin Iron Arm, Count of Flanders, kidnapped Judith, the daughter of Charles the Bold in 862 in Senlis and brought her to a fortress that used to be where the present Rumbeke Castle stands. The Roeselare area soon became part of the County of Flanders. The rights to build fortifications and to hold a public market date from 957, during the lordship of Baldwin III.