The canal Roeselare-Leie is an artificial waterway between the town Roeselare

Roeselare

Roeselare 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....

 and the river

River

A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...

 Leie.

It can handle barges up to 1350 tonnes.

The port in Roeselare, at the start of the canal Roeselare-Leie, is mainly characterized by a thriving industrial activity. Well-known companies that are located there include Debaillié and Hanekop, both producers of animal food. Soubry, the well-known dough manufacturer, also has an establishment there.

The Roeselare port covers an area of 40 hectares and is easily accessible by road. Nearby is the A17/E403 highway Bruges

Bruges

Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....

-Kortrijk

Kortrijk

Kortrijk ; , ; ) is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province West Flanders...

 with many opportunities to explore the coast, the inland of the Belgian-French and Belgian-Dutch border regions. The disclosure in Roeselare is also good with the Mandel Avenue that can be used to access the industrial zone in Beveren. It is also easy to choose driving through the King Albert I Avenue until the Inner Ring road to the Great Ring N36/R32. The canal connects Roeselare with the ports of Dunkirk, Ghent, Antwerp, Brussels and Liege, via the Leie.

Following the canal from Roeselare City, one passes first the town of Izegem

Izegem

Izegem is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Izegem proper and the towns of Emelgem and Kachtem. Emelgem was added to Izegem in 1965, Kachtem in 1977. Izegem itself lies on the southern banks of the Mandel, Emelgem and Kachtem on...

 where the food company Vandemoortele is located, then Ingelmunster

Ingelmunster

Ingelmunster is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises only the town of Ingelmunster proper. As of January 1, 2006, Ingelmunster had a total population of 10,617. Its total area is 16.16 km²...

 and Oostrozebeke

Oostrozebeke

Oostrozebeke is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises only the town of Oostrozebeke proper. On January 1, 2006 Oostrozebeke had a total population of 7,449. The total area is 16.62 km² which gives a population density of 448 inhabitants per...

, and finally Ooigem, a municipality of Wielsbeke

Wielsbeke

Wielsbeke is a city located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Ooigem, Sint-Baafs-Vijve and Wielsbeke proper. On January 1, 2006 Wielsbeke had a total population of 8,906. The total area is 21.76 km² which gives a population density of 409 inhabitants...

 where the canal joins the Leie. There is a lock to overcome a height of 7.50 meters. The Kortrijk-Bruges railway line runs a few kilometers parallel to the canal. There is a proposal to build a container terminal for temporary container storage alongside the canal.

The Leiestreek tourist office and the municipality are working on a project to give the canal and the green area around it a recreational function. For example, during the summer there are already boat cruises. The banks of the canal are also frequented by fishermen.

The piece of the canal between Roeselare port and the town is an ideal backdrop for street theater and cultural events, such as the annual happening "De Groote Stooringe".