Once, Wervik was referred to as the southernmost Dutch-speaking city in the Northern Hemisphere. Located on the banks of the river Leie, which flows in here in Flanders, Wervik has historically become a border city in every sense. The Treaty of Utrecht (1713), which marked the end of two centuries of religious conflicts and bloody wars in Europe, literally divided the city in two halves: The district on the other side (Right Bank) of the Leie became French territory overnight and has since been referred to as Wervicq-Sud. Anyone thinking of a border undoubtedly thinks of smuggling... Due to its unique location, Wervik became a true smuggling paradise in the 18th century. Since 1963, when Comines-Warneton was transferred to Wallonia (Hainaut), the language, regional, and provincial boundary has also run along Wervik. At the border between the Westhoek and the Leiestreek, right in the triangle of Ieper-Kortrijk-Rijsel, border phenomena have significantly influenced the history and appearance of Wervik.

A detailed map is available at the tourist office (Koestraat 63, 89400 Wervik).