De Rattevalle is a hamlet in the Belgian municipality of Middelkerke. The hamlet is located in the Polders along the Plassendale-Nieuwpoort Canal. It consists of a few houses around the Rattevalle Bridge over this canal, at the intersection of the road along the canal and the road to the polder village of Mannekensvere.

Historical interpretation:
The name of this hamlet does not refer to rat traps, contrary to what one might first think. In the Rattevalle district there was a serious dike breach before the middle of the 12th century. That breakthrough caused a large swirling puddle to form behind the dike. 'Rasewale' or also 'rossewaal' is a Dutch word that is mentioned for the first time in Bruges sources in 1263. 'Waal' in Middle Dutch means a hole in a dike, a dike breach where the soil has been washed away. It therefore seems very likely that this is the origin of the toponym.

In the 17th century, near the current Rattevalle Bridge, there was a lock that was powered by horse power. It is possible that the hamlet was also named after these horses, that is, that operated the lock. The lock was located on the Plassendale canal, which was dug between 1638 and 1640.

Translated by Google •

Andy

August 9, 2025

Quiet route

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 40 m

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Monday 20 October

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70 %

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Max wind speed: 22.0 km/h

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Location: Middelkerke, Oostende, West Flanders, Flanders, Belgium

Hamlet Rattevalle

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