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This church in the village of Vlassenbroek – built without a steeple but with a roof turret above the intersection of the nave and transept – was dedicated to Saint Gertrude of Nivelles. In the Rhineland, she is known – and this is by no means meant disrespectfully – as the "Mouse Saint," since in the Middle Ages she was invoked primarily against those pests that constantly helped themselves to the food supplies in the house and barn.

Tucked away in a meander of the Scheldt River, the village welcomes thousands of hikers, cyclists, and bon vivants every year. The Gothic St. Gertrude's Church, visible from the Scheldt banks, towers over the landscape and is an iconic sight. It's open to the public every Sunday in July and August. Did you know that Vlassenbroek is also a uniquely creative village? This artists' village has a magnetic pull on anyone who loves art and beauty. In these narrow streets, you'll discover a rich collection of works by sculptors and painters. The picturesque surroundings must have something to do with it. It's the perfect place to get lost. (Scheldeland)

Striking are the 18th-century terracotta reliefs on the exterior facades, which depict the five Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary. Inside, you'll find a 17th-century pulpit with graceful twisted columns and cherub heads, an 18th-century communion rail, and a unique organ, probably from the Church of Our Lady in Dendermonde. An anecdote that touches the heart of this church is that of Pastor Valery Stuyver (1916–1995), a sculptor who served the parish from 1956 to 1983. He replaced the altar, which had been affected by woodworm, with a stone version of his own making, on which he chiseled in relief the washing of feet during the Last Supper. Above the altar hangs a life-size figure of Christ, also by his hand.

オーフェルメールのドンクメールは、単なる絵のように美しい水面ではありません。それは、何世紀にもわたる労働と人間の忍耐の静かな証人です。かつてこの地域は広大な泥炭地であり、燃料として使用された乾燥泥炭である泥炭を手で切り出していました。その泥炭の採掘が景観を形作りました。泥炭が取り除かれた場所に深い穴ができ、後に水が溜まり、ドンクメールができました。 湖のほとりには、この仕事に従事した男性への力強い賛辞である、青銅のTurfstekerstandbeeld（泥炭採掘者像）が立っています。ミシェル・ペレマンによって制作されたこの像は、泥炭採掘者が仕事に打ち込む姿を描いています。粗末な衣服と道具を身に着け、仕事に身をかがめています。泥炭が主要な暖房手段であり、労働者がわずかな賃金のために日々重労働に従事していた時代を思い出させます。彼らは湖の周りの質素な小屋に住んでいましたが、彼らのボスは泥炭取引で莫大な財産を築いていました。

ベルラーレのドンクメールは、フランドル地方最大の湖の1つで、多様な自然とレクリエーションの中心地となっています。古い泥炭採掘坑から生まれたこの湖は、86ヘクタールに広がり、そのうち約30％が自然保護区となっています。周辺地域は、畑、森林、湿地、豊かな生物多様性など、スヘルデ川の美しい自然の景観を提供しています。 ドンクメールはバードウォッチャーにも人気の場所で、水辺とその周辺には多くの珍しい鳥が生息しています。湖畔には、ウナギ料理で有名なレストランなど、居心地の良い飲食店があります。

uh, what are they doing on the Durme

The Scheldt Valley has been an official national park since 2023 and stretches along the Scheldt estuary between Gentbrugge and Antwerp. Here, freshwater and saltwater meet, creating a unique tidal landscape full of mudflats, salt marshes, and unique plants. Thanks to cleaner water, animals like the otter and the beaver are returning. In some places, the tidal range is visible for up to six meters. A vibrant, dynamic natural landscape that never ceases to amaze.

break to eat and drink.