tourist Guide - Toerisme Meetjesland

Tourist Guide
meetjesland 2016
Welcome to the Meetjesland
Meetjesland, it’s an experience! Discover a
slice of unfamiliar Flanders. Far away from
the hustle and bustle. Between Ghent,
Bruges and the coast of Zeelandic Flanders
(the Netherlands) you will discover a cycling
paradise with woods, fields and, to the north,
a unique creek area.
Info: Visitor Center Huysmanhoeve, Toerisme
Meetjesland, Bus 1, 9900 Eeklo, T +32 9 377 86 00, info@
toerismemeetjesland.be, www.toerismemeetjesland.be
Hiking network Creek Area Meetjesland
www.toerismemeetjesland.be
Active
cycling
Join us on the Meetjesland cycling network!
The level gradients of Meetjesland are home to a network
of cycling routes with various junctions, just like the rest
of Flanders. The assets of our cycling network are the
landscape, the level gradients of the region and the fine
selection of pleasant cycling tours often on little roads
with barely any traffic. We are located between Ghent,
Bruges and the coast of Zeelandic Flanders just across the
border from the Netherlands, which is an additional asset.
The large canals in our region are an added attraction.
Along these canals are magnificent cycling routes, with
miles of easy cycling without ever coming across even a
single car. We call these our ‘cycling highways’. You can
outline your routes yourself on our cycling network map,
guaranteeing peace and quietness. And many different
routes. You can also easily connect to the Meetjesland
Cycling network from the center of Ghent (junctions 4 and
5). Simply follow junctions 50 and 51 to outline a lovely
cycling tour on our network, starting in Vinderhoute, a
beautiful small village with six castles.
Dykes in the Meetjesland
Info: Cycling Network Meetjesland costs 6 Euros. You
can interact with the cycling network for free online
on www.toerismemeetjesland.be under the section
‘Cycling’, with the route planner. We recommend
cyclists to keep the cycling network map with them on
their tour. Toerisme Meetjesland (T + 32 9 377 86 00 of
[email protected])
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Get to work immediately with the cycling
network
To give you a taste of our cycling network, we would
make two suggestions. We have selected these junction
suggestions to create themed tours. You can easily work
out different routes with these junction combinations.
Simply follow the junction combinations below. We
recommend that cyclists purchase a junction map (6 Euros)
in one of our tourist centers and have this map on you
during your tour.
De Lieve Tells Its Tale (40 km): This tour takes you
along the oldest canal in Flanders. From the moment
of its foundation, the city of Ghent wanted a direct
connection to the sea. ‘De Lieve’ is the first excavated
canal in Flanders and was meant to grant Ghent a direct
waterway connection with ‘het Zwin’ (in the region of
Damme and Bruges). In Lovendegem, Waarschoot and
Zomergem this ‘Liefken’ still serves as a picturesque
little canal where fishermen and herons reign supreme.
Start this tour in the village of Waarschoot, at the SintGhislenus church. Follow the node markers from the
center of Waarschoot.
Tour ‘De Lieve Tells Its Tale’: 13-15-28-30-34-32-53-51-54-55-4864-25-23-22-12-10-6-1-61-52-53-65-56-59-9-13-3
The Creeks Speak (35 km and 20 km): To allow you
to discover the prettiest part of the region we have
outlined two themed tours in the border area between
Belgium and the Netherlands. On route 1 you will
discover the fascinating ‘Tale of the creeks in SintLaureins’. This tour takes you along the prettiest creeks
in the region. Tour 1 (35 km) starts at the information
office of Tourism Sint-Laureins, Dorpsstraat 87 in 9980
Sint-Laureins. Tour 2 tells you the ‘History surrounding
Kaprijke’ and shows you the fair village of Kaprijke,
once a proud Flemish city of which the current town
hall is a telling reminder. This tour can be started at the
information office of Kaprijke, Plein 1 in 9970 Kaprijke.
Trajectory ‘The Creeks Speak’ Tour 1: 90-86-83-41-42-44-45-4760-46-43-75-82-81-85-89-90
Trajectory ‘The Creeks Speak’ Tour 2: 79-80-93-91-89-85-76-7374-79
Those wanting to combine the two tours,
follow this trajectory from Sint-Laureins
(53 km):
90-86-83-41-42-44-45-47-60-46-43-75-82-81-8576-73-74-79-80-93-91-89-90
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Forest information center Het Leen
Hiking
Hiking Network Woods of Meetjesland
Hiking network Creek Area Meetjesland
This part of Meetjesland consists of over more than 1000
hectares of woods. Het Leen for example (one of the three
woods in the hiking network) has been the property of the
province of East-Flanders since 1973, and is a former
military domain. Now it is an ideal hiking wood with hard
surfaced walking lanes; nice for a Sunday walk with a
stroller. This is truly a hiking area for all ages. There is a
cafeteria with a playground and playwoods. Don’t forget to
visit the arboretum and the brand-new forest information
center. At the forest information center children can borrow
a goody bag for free containing research materials to help
them explore the nature in the woods. The other woods
of the hiking network are: ‘Lembeekse Bossen’ (Woods of
Lembeke’) and Drongengoed (between Knesselare, Ursel
and Kleit).
The creeks and polders in the north are particulary nice
for hikers. This hiking region stretches from the medieval
border village Middelburg in the west almost to the town
Zelzate with his market, cosy pubs and the port of Ghent
nearby in the east. It’s an area of creeks, dykes and
polders. A hiking region where silence reigns. And where
the natural environment is astonishing. You will discover
the gorgeous creek Boerekreek (6 km) and the beautyful
polders around it. And you will also see small villages, hear
ancient Flemish stories and meet nice people there.
Info: Provinciaal Domein Het Leen, Gentsesteenweg 80, 9900 Eeklo,
T +32 9 376 74 74, [email protected]
Info: The Hiking networks in Meetjesland are for sale in all East
Flemish tourist information offices for 6 Euros and can be ordered
online on www.toerismemeetjesland.be The map is available only in
Dutch, but those familiar with the junction system can make full use
of it immediately, irrespective of what language they speak.
Online routeplanner on the website.
Creek Area Meetjesland
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swimming
If you are looking for an indoor swimming pool in the
region, we gladly refer you to Zelzate located in the
Meetjesland. With a kiddie pool for the toddlers, a rapid
and a fun waterslide, Swimming Pool Eurohal in Zelzate
has waves of fun for all ages.
Info: Zwembad Eurohal Zelzate, Oostkade, 9060 Zelzate,
T Dirk Willems +32 9 345 74 22, [email protected]
Our region does not offer any facilities for swimming
outdoors in the summer. There are however some
magnificent opportunities in the direct vicinity. We gladly
refer you to: nearby recreational domain Blaarmeersen
in Ghent (Sport- en recreatiedomein Blaarmeersen,
Zuiderlaan 5, 9000 Gent, T +32 9 266 80 00) or provincial
recreation domain Puyenbroeck in neighbouring town
Wachtebeke (Provinciaal Domein Puyenbroeck, Puyenbrug
1a, 9185 Wachtebeke, T +32 9 342 42 42). May we also
point you in the direction of the coast of Zeelandic
Flanders, which is nearby and has beautiful beaches? The
Zeelandic Flanders port town of Breskens is barely 28 km
away from Eeklo.
The Belgian-Dutch border
Attractions
Provincial Regional Visit Center
‘Huysmanhoeve’
Provinciaal Streekcentrum Huysmanhoeve (Provincial Regional
Visit Center) is an interesting place to be in the summer. This
old Flemish farm is a new regional visit center. The gateway
building is the oldest building in Eeklo, probably from the
12th century. The gateway and the farmhouse are official
monuments since 1993. The regional visit center comes alive
during the summer thanks to the many heritage activities
on the site, organized by Plattelandscentrum Meetjesland. A
place to enjoy and to stay until the evening, indeed. In the old
farmhouse you can find the central Tourism Board of the region.
Info: Provincial Regional Visit Center Huysmanhoeve, Bus 1, 9900 Eeklo,
T +32 9 327 04 47 (farm), +32 9 377 86 00 (tourism) or +32 9 379 78 37
(Plattelandscentrum Meetjesland)
Swimming pool Eurohal à Zelzate
Visit Center Huysmanhoeve in Eeklo
Creeks in Assenede
The creeks and polders in the
north
The high point of your visit to Meetjesland is the creek
area. Particularly Sint-Laureins and Assenede can
rightly be called the main creek towns of the area. Here,
on the border between Belgium and the Netherlands
where smugglers were once king, a stroll or a cycling
tour are truly worth the effort.
The creeks are an exceptionally visible presence in
Sint-Laureins. They can be found as surprising water
pools in the polders of the border area. Between SintLaureins and Watervliet lie the greatest creeks of the
area. Be sure to visit the quaint little villages of SintJan-In-Eremo, Sint-Margriete and Waterland-Oudeman.
Toerisme
Sint-Laureins,
T +32 9 218 76 47,
dienstvrijetijd@
sint-laureins.be
Creeks in Sint-Laureins
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Assenede too has its impressive creeks. These great
water pools are even more hidden in the vast polder
landscape. This makes the Assenede creeks or ‘gullies’ a
true paradise of rare birds and birds spending the winter.
Assenede is a cosy village where you can have a nice bite
to eat or enjoy a glass or two. Boekhoute and Bassevelde
are just around the corner. The prettiest places along
Lieve and K ale
De Lieve is the oldest canal in Flanders and originally
connected Ghent with the Zwin region (region of Bruges
and Damme). The river Kale was long ago part of a tributary
system of the Scheldt river; the water of the Kale then
stretched from the area of Tielt via the Durme through
Lokeren up to Tielrode on the Scheldt. The Kale as a
natural river has in the meantime been cross-cut numerous
times by new canals. In the Southern Meetjesland we on
occasion come across the meandering Kale, particularly
in the ‘Land of Nevele’. This region is home to countless
wonderful natural spots, numerous slices of paradise where
‘tranquillity’ is key. An interesting start for a cycling tour.
Info: Toerisme Assenede, Visitor Center Boekhoute,
Boekhoutedorp 3, 9961 Boekhoute, T 09 373 60 08,
[email protected], www.assenede.be
Canada Poland Museum
‘for peace and freedom’
1995 saw the foundation of the Canada Poland Museum ‘for
peace and freedom’ in commemoration of the Canadian and
Polish soldiers that liberated the area in 1944. Witnesses to
this military operation are the Canadian Military Cemetery,
some three kilometres from the museum. The CanadaPoland War II Museum uses dioramas to tell the tale of
mobilization, occupation and liberation. It also showcases
uniforms, weapons, posters, newspaper cuttings and
other wartime materials. The museum offers an important
testimonial of the liberation of Europe, not in the least
because the Canadians and Polish had fought so hard here
to gain access as quickly as possible to the vital port of
Antwerp, a crucial part in the fight for victory in the Second
World War in Western Europe. Particulary beautiful are the
English, French and Japanese gardens around the museum.
They can be visited, with guide, every hour.
Info: Canada-Poland War Museum, Heulendonk 21, 9991 Adegem
(Maldegem), T + 32 50 71 06 66, [email protected],
www.canadamuseum.be
Tip:
Drongengoed
Landscape Park Drongengoed
Along the Lieve you can start a magnificent cycling tour on
the cycling network that stretches from Ghent to Bruges.
Mind you, the route from Ghent to Bruges along the Lieve is
no less than 52 km long! One useful tip would be to return
by train. To take your bicycle on the train adds a 5 Euro
surcharge to your passenger ticket. Info: www.b-rail.be
The Landscape Park Drongengoed is the largest wood in
East Flanders. With a surface area of 550 hectares the
forest is a remnant of the medieval forest belt between
Ghent and Bruges. The main attraction of the forest is the
Drongengoedhoeve in Ursel (between nodes 75 and 68).
The former abbey farm of the Norbertine order of Drongen
dates back to 1746. It now houses a regional visitor center
and a cafeteria. On Sundays fresh bread is baked and on
Saturdays the ceramics workshop is open to visitors. You
can also take a stroll in the herb garden. The Landscape
Park Drongengoed is one of the three woods in the ‘Hiking
Network Woods of Meetjesland’.
Info: Visitor Center Drongengoedhoeve, Drongengoedweg 9,
9910 Ursel, T +32 473 64 81 84, [email protected]
De Lieve from Belzele to Zomergem
Canada-Poland War II Museum
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On the steam tr ain between
Maldegem and Eeklo
Maldegem is home to a charming railway station from
1862, protected by its monument status. This railway
station was crowned with the 2007 Flemish Monument
Award. The station was transformed by volunteers into a
unique center housing steam locomotives and old railway
carriages. The steam trains ride on Sundays from May until
the end of September. In July and August they also ride out
on Wednesdays and Fridays. The high point of your ride
between Maldegem and Eeklo is the antique railway bridge
near Balgerhoeke across the Schipdonk canal.
Heritage and culture
In and around monuments
In and around the Meetjesland monuments you relive part of
the region’s past. The monuments are remnants of the tall
tales of yore. A few “must-see locations:”
Info: Stoomcentrum Maldegem, Stationsplein 8, 9990 Maldegem,
T +32 50 71 68 52, [email protected]. For a ride schedule ask
the tourist information offices of the Meetjesland or call the Steam
Center in advance.
Info: Visitor Center Boekhoute, Boekhoutedorp 3, 9961 Boekhoute,
T 09 373 60 08, [email protected], www.assenede.be
The fishing village of Boekhoute is a noteworthy
Meetjesland town. The town is some 20 km away from
the Western Scheldt. But the fishing history of the village,
which until 1953 had its own fishing port thanks to the
Braakman arm leading towards the sea, is still very much
alive in the hearts of the townspeople of Boekhoute. To
this day two of Boekhoute’s fishing boats are still in active
service, departing for their catch from the Dutch fishing
ports of Breskens and Terneuzen. Learn more on this
remarkable village in the brand-new Visitor Center. It is
advisable to call ahead of your visit.
The neo-gothic and sculpture trail in Eeklo: The charming
corners of Eeklo with folk singer Tamboer, Flemish Music
in small cafés, the narrow streets, the many statues and
the little squares will not offer up their secrets without
some effort. Admire the 17th century town hall. Discover
the belfry which was made a world heritage site by Unesco,
and which was added to the town hall in 1932 as a tribute
to the veterans of the First World War. Feel free to pay a
visit to Tourism Meetjesland to get better acquainted with
the fine corners of the city.
Info: Toerisme Meetjesland (in historic building Huysmanhoeve),
Bus 1, 9900 Eeklo, T +32 9 377 86 00, [email protected],
www.toerismemeetjesland.be or the tourism infopoint of the city,
Library, Molenstraat 36, 9900 Eeklo, T +32 9 218 27 00 . (Node 94)
The center of Eeklo with the neo-gothic Sint-Vincentius church
On the railway line Maldegem-Eeklo
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Town hall and Square in Kaprijke: Kaprijke is now
a village but was once a city of weavers. The most
notable sights are: the 17th century town hall and the
magnificent Square where people came from far and
wide in the Middle Ages to trade in textiles.
Info: Toerisme Kaprijke, Plein 1, 9970 Kaprijke, T +32 9 323 90 54,
[email protected], www.kaprijke.be (between nodes 79
and 74)
The Meulekreek in Middelburg
Middelburg-in-Flanders: Middelburg-In-Vlaanderen has
a rich castle history. The founder of this miniature city
is the wealthy Bruges burgher Pieter Bladelin, friend of
the family to the kings of Burgundy Philip the Good and
Charles the Bold. Middelburg offers a glimpse into the
past of the town. The wonderful Meulekreek forms the
border between Belgium and the Netherlands. It is also
worth a small stroll starting at the Meulekreek to visit
the reconstructed ramparts surrounding Middelburg.
Follow the hiking network on the trajectory 54-28(NL)45(NL)-53-54
Around the Sint-Barbara church in Maldegem
Around the Sint-Barbara church in Maldegem:
Maldegem has always retained its character and it really
pays off to wander through the center of Maldegem.
Note the Sint-Anna church in the heart of the town. Or
the neo-gothic town hall with its belfry tower and its
location along the Ede. The most impressing part of
Maldegem is reached when taking a small street at the
tourist center to walk in and around the Sint-Barabara
church. This is an oasis of tranquillity in the middle of
the busy town center of Maldegem. At the tourist office
is the whimsical statuette of Rietje Koane.
Info: UiTloket Maldegem (town hall), Marktstraat 7,
9990 Maldegem, T 050 72 86 22, [email protected],
www.maldegem.be
The town hall of Kaprijke
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Out
Folk game of Krulbol
Dining
In the mill on the prettiest ‘dries’ of Flanders in Doornzele
the exhibition ‘Expo krulbol’ tells the tale of the folk game
from the Meetjesland. The game of krulbol is centuries
old. The game as we know it in this region is still played
in Meetjesland, the Ghent region, the region surrounding
Beernem and in Zeelandic Flanders. On top of the mill you
have a fantastic view of the Dries (3 km long!) and the
Ghent port.
No lack of dining opportunities in the Meetjesland. Each
town center has its brasseries, eateries and pubs, with
Maldegem, Zelzate and Eeklo as centers of regional
horeca. We would still like to draw your attention to some
remarkable places or regions with regional tasty treats.
Info: www.horecameetjesland.be
The Heihoek on the Lembeekse Bossen: The Heihoek
is an ideal starting point for a brisk walk through
the Lembeekse Bossen. Ample parking, cosiness, an
ice-cream truck during the summer and – most of all
– plenty of restaurants and eateries. There is also the
Bardelaere Museum. With over 16,000 collection pieces
(!) distributed across 112 professions and spread out
over 1,200 square metres of exhibition space Bardelaere
is sure to break at least some records in the world of
museums. It paints, in a nutshell, a wonderful picture
of the Flemish, their habits and culture over the last 100
years. The people of Bardelaere will welcome you with
open arms. Bardelaere is a funny place full of ‘petites
histoires’. This local history museum showcases the
Flemish spirit of self-deprecation and the Burgundian
way of life. Certainly worth a visit for this reason alone.
Info: Expo Krulbol, Doornzele Dries, 9940 Evergem, Belgische
Krulbolbond T +32 476 46 60 02, open on weekend afternoons
during the summer. Kindly phone ahead. (Node 4)
The ‘Nood Gods’ by the Master of Frankfurt
Master
of Frankfurt in Watervliet: In the list of top
paintings by Flemish Primitives is found the painting
‘Nood Gods’ (1520), attributed to the Master of
Frankfurt. This work is located in Watervliet. The Master
of Frankfurt has paintings on display in Frankfurt,
Madrid, Heidelberg, Antwerp, and Watervliet. The church
is a magnificent building with a unique organ where
organists from far and wide come to play. The town
square is called ‘Stee’.
Info: Toerisme Sint-Laureins, Dorpsstraat 87,
9980 Sint-Laureins, T +32 9 218 76 47,
[email protected], www.sint-laureins.be
Info: Bardelaere Museum, Ledestraat 42, 9971 Lembeke,
T +32 9 377 04 22, [email protected], open on
Sundays from March to the end of October. More information
available from Tourism Kaprijke (T 09 323 90 54)
Krulbol in the Meetjesland
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Top restaurants in castle villages near Ghent:
If you like class look no further than Hansbeke,
Merendree en Vinderhoute, a short distance away
from Ghent, for some magnificent restaurants. They
are certainly worth noting. The villages of Hansbeke,
Merendree and Vinderhoute are cosy and typical
Meetjesland towns where you will gladly step off the
pedals during your cycling tour. The nearby town
of Zomergem is also worth noting. This is a village
with little cafés in the market square and fine manor
houses in the town center.
Eel in Sint-Laureins
Beer museum
Cheers, our regional
beers!
The most renowned regional product is undoubtedly
the Augustijn beer from the one true large regional
brewery, Brewery Van Steenberge. Besides the other
Van Steenberge products on the market such as Piraat
and Gulden Draak, you can also find a microbrewery
or small-name regional beers that have garnered great
acclaim in the beer market. The Troubadour beer by The
Musketeers in Ursel, for instance, was awarded a gold
medal at the World Beer Cup in Chicago. Microbrewery
Den Tseut from Oosteeklo is another pleasant surprise.
And then there is the Beer Museum! The Beer Museum
is located in Ertvelde, which also happens to be home
to the large Augustijn Brewery, and can therefore rightly
be called the premier beer village of the Meetjesland.
In this cellar-turned-café visitors will discover over
5,000 different beer bottles, filled with the original
beer. Prepare to be charmed by the history of the
many Meetjesland breweries, an extensive beer glass
collection and Remi’s amusing laugh.
Eel in Sint-Laureins: Since 2010 Sint-Laureins has the
honour of bearing the title ‘East-Flemish Ambassador to
Vlaanderen Lekkerland’. This is in no small part thanks
to the decades of tradition in eel dining. People from
far and wide make the trip here, to the creek area, to
come and savour the delicious fish dishes in typical eel
eateries. Around Sint-Jan-In-Eremo are some excellent
eel eateries with colourful Flemish names: Roste Muis,
Polderzicht, In den Draaiput, Elmare, Krekenpoort, etc.
Info: Toerisme Sint-Laureins, Dorpsstraat 87, 9980 SintLaureins, T +32 9 218 76 47, [email protected],
www.sint-laureins.be
Info: Het Biermuseum, Kuipstraat 36, 9940 Ertvelde,
T + 32 9 344 81 47, [email protected]
‘t Aards Paradijs
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Colophon
This digital tourist Guide Meetjesland 2016 in foreign languages is an initiative by
Tourism East Flanders vzw and Tourism Meetjesland vzw. This publication finds
his origin in the Interreg IVB project Collabor8 (period 2009-2012) in which we
promoted collaboration between regional tourist entrepreneurs.
Responsible Editor:
Toerisme Meetjesland, Mevr. Rita De Coninck, Bus 1, 9900 Eeklo,
T + 32 9 377 86 00, [email protected]
Editing: Bart Van Damme
With thanks to: the municipal administrations, the municipal tourist departments,
Erik Hennes, Hannah Pector, Heidi Schaght, Inge Slock, Ilse Huyvaert, Koen
Trenson, Paul Van De Woestijne, Regina De Meyer, Sirka Ludtke
Lay-out: Impressantplus Productiehuis, Gent
Campaign styling: Magelaan cvba, Gent
Photography: Toerisme Meetjesland, Toerisme Oost-Vlaanderen, David Stockman,
Michel Vyncke, Daniël de Kievith, Koen Van Waesberghe and David Samyn.
www.toerismemeetjesland.be