The ancient city of Roeselare was built at the intersection of two Roman roads. Trade and transport remain essential to the town's economy to this day -- a canal connects Roeselare to the
Leie River, and the water port is one of the most active in Belgium's interior. The primary road running through modern Roeselare is the E403, which connects
Brugge in the north with
Kortrijk in the south, and further on across the border into France, Lille. Roeselare's Old Town Hall is an excellent example of 18th century Classical architecture. Roesealare has a population of 54,000.
Beveren, Oekene (Ouckene), and Rumbeke are boroughs within the municipal district of Roeselare. (There is another Beveren in Oost-Vlaanderen province.)