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Raeybergh Wheel – Medieval Execution Site

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Belgium

Flanders

Antwerp

Essen

Raeybergh Wheel – Medieval Execution Site

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Location: Essen, Antwerp, Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium

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Top cycling routes to Raeybergh Wheel – Medieval Execution Site

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1. Chapel of Grote Horendonk – Strontpaal (Border Post 238A) loop from Essen

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Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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2. De Maatjes Nature Reserve – De Klot Observation Tower loop from Essen

35.5km

02:06

40m

Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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3. Border Marker 241 – Maria Hemelvaart Church in Nispen loop from Essen

29.0km

01:43

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Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Tips

🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën

October 2, 2024

In Essen and Kalmthout, executions were carried out at at least two locations in the 17th century. The most important and perhaps also the oldest location is located at the Boterbergen, but the Raeybergh was also a notorious location at the time. In cases of murder and manslaughter, among other things, the criminal was broken on the wheel and the body was placed on a wheel, as a warning to those who also had bad thoughts.

The location was always located near a post office, to warn strangers that crime was severely punished. Moreover, they were also located in a remote area because no one wanted to live near such a horrible place. Incidentally, the bodies were left until they had completely decomposed.

Translated by Google •

🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën

October 2, 2024

The Wheel of Raeybergh, historical interpretation:

The street name 'Raaiberg' is a reference to a place of execution dating from the Middle Ages. The name 'Raaiberg' is a corruption of the word 'radberg', a hill or mountain on which a wheel was placed.

A wheel is mounted on a large, thick pole on which the condemned person is tied and 'radbraakt' (the breaking of all the bones) with a heavy bar, after which, after a painful death struggle, death follows.

In 1340, Nout Goetlief is said to have been broken on the wheel on 'het wheel van Craeybergh', and in 1767 it is Elias Breukeleer's turn to suffer the same fate. The symbolic gravestone is dedicated to him with the text in old Flemish:

"Here Elias Breukeleer was

back-broken

And his head beaten.

He had to endure the pain for punishment.

His body tied to the wheel For

crying and screaming.

A warning for the passer-by With wrong ways"

The current 'Raeybergh wheel' was erected here in 2021, a good stone's throw from the place where the original stood.

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 60 m

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Tuesday 7 October

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Location: Essen, Antwerp, Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium

Raeybergh Wheel – Medieval Execution Site

1. Chapel of Grote Horendonk – Strontpaal (Border Post 238A) loop from Essen

2. De Maatjes Nature Reserve – De Klot Observation Tower loop from Essen

3. Border Marker 241 – Maria Hemelvaart Church in Nispen loop from Essen

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