Vlamertinge

section of Ypres, Belgium

Vlamertinge is a village in the Belgian province of West Flanders and a borough of the city of Ypres. The village center of Vlamertinge lies just outside the city center of Ypres, along the main road N38 to the nearby town of Poperinge.

Vlamertinge
Town
From top to bottom: Saint Vedast Church and Former Town Hall Building
Coat of arms of Vlamertinge
Location in Ypres
Location in Ypres
Vlamertinge is located in Belgium
Vlamertinge
Vlamertinge
Location in Belgium
Coordinates: 50°51′N 2°49′E / 50.850°N 2.817°E / 50.850; 2.817
Country Belgium
RegionFlanders
Province West Flanders
MunicipalityYpres
Elevation
17 m (56 ft)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode
8908
Area code(+32) 57

In addition to the city center of Ypres itself, Vlamertinge is the largest borough of Ypres. In the west of Vlamertinge, along the road to Poperinge, is the hamlet of Brandhoek.

History change

The earliest data about Vlamertinge date from the Middle Ages. In 857 a chapel was built in Vlamertinge. In 970 Ypres was destroyed and the chapel of Vlamertinge burned down. The oldest document, known to date, which includes the name Flambertenges, is a deed of the year 1066. Baldwin V, Count of Flanders, his wife Adela and their son Baldwin, in this deed gave goods to the church and the Chapter (religion) from Sint-Pieters by Lille. These goods were, among others, a tenth located in Elverdinge and also a tenth located in Vlamertinge - "In territorio Furnensi, in villa Elverzenges, decinam unam ; Flambertenges decinam similiter unam".

In the Ancien Régime Vlamertinge was a "Heerlijkheid" of Veurne-Ambacht with 22 backlendings and suffered a lot from the sieges of nearby Ypres.

During the First World War, the whole village was destroyed by bombing. In 1944, during the Second World War, Vlamertinge was liberated by a Polish armored division.

Etymology change

Vlamertinge would come from Flambert (a name) + inga (son, descendant of (genitive)) + heim (domicile). The oldest known spellings of the current Vlamertinge are: Flembertenges (1066), Flamertingha (1123), Flambertinghes (1142), Flamertinge (1154), Flamertinga (1185), Flamertinghe (1200), Flambertengues (1202), Flamertinghes (1238), Flamertinges (1269), Vlamertinghe (1272), Vlamertinghes (1275), Flamertenghe (1275), Vlamertincghe (1280), etc.

Geography change

Vlamertinge is 17 meters above sea level. The municipality also borders Ypres in the East, Voormezele in the Southeast, Kemmel and Dikkebus in the South, Reningelst in the Southwest, Poperinge in the West, Elverdinge in the North and Brielen in the Northeast.

Demographic developments change

 

From 1487 to 1697 we see a large decline in the population of Vlamertinge. The most plausible explanation for this would have been the Eighty Years' War in the Seventeen Provinces.

Economy change

 

There are 70 to 80 stores in Vlamertinge. In Vlamertinge there is a large company Valcke that makes concrete constructions and therefore also offers employment for many people in the village.

Politics change

Baljuws, lords & awnings change

  • 1???-13??: Nicolas Den Hane (baljuw) [1]
  • 1453-1457: Jaspar de Flandre (baljuw) [2]
  • 15??-15??: Jan Looms (baljuw) [3]
  • 16??-1646: Pierre Immeloot (lord)
  • 1646-1653: David Immeloot (lord)
  • 1653-1703: Balthazar Henricus Immeloot (lord)
  • 16??-16??: Jan de Cerf (lord) [4]
  • 16??-1683: François de Cerf (lord)
  • 1679-1???: Jean Charles Augustus-de Harchies (awning)
  • 16??-1732: Jean-Baptiste Coppieters (lord)

Mayors change

Vlamertinge had its own municipal council and mayor until the mergers of 1977. Mayors were:

  • 18??-1820: Jean Ignace Onraet
  • 1820-1836: Lucien Boedt
  • 1836-1842: Joseph Verminck
  • 1843-1862: Dominique van Zuylen van Nyevelt
  • 1862-1895: Jules Veys
  • 1896-1909: Amand Vandaele
  • 1910-1927: Evarist Vande Lanoitte
  • 1927-1928: Marcel Vandenbulcke
  • 1928-1946: Florentin Bouton
  • 1941-1944: Rafaël Six
  • 1947-1952: Usmar Bonte
  • 1953-1970: Julien Bouton
  • 1970-1976: Georges Platteau

Sights change

  • The St. Vedast Church
  • The former town hall of Vlamertinge from 1922, in neo-Flemish Renaissance style
  • The Castle of Vlamertinge or Castle du Parc was built in 1857-1858 by order of the Viscount Pierre-Gustave du Parc, after a design by Joseph Schadde.
  • In Vlamertinge there are a number of British military cemeteries from the First World War:
    • Brandhoek Military Cemetery
    • Red Farm Military Cemetery
    • Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery
    • Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery
    • Railway Chateau Cemetery
    • Divisional Cemetery
    • Brandhoek New Military Cemetery
    • Brand Corner New Military Cemetery No.3
    • Hop Store Cemetery


Sport change

  • Football club KSK Vlamertinge has been affiliated with the Belgian Football Association since the 1930s and is active in the provincial series.

Nickname change

People speak of "Vlamertingse Pottebrekers"(Vlamertingisch pot crushers), and the pots that are meant here are obviously beer pots.

Well-known inhabitants change

  • Joris Six

Honorary citizens change

  • Jan Hoet (first person in the history of Vlamertinge who obtained honorary citizenship)

References change

  1. Vlamertinge in de jaren 1300.
  2. Buylaert, F. Repertorium van de Vlaamse adel (ca. 1350-ca. 1500), p. 758.
  3. Hoeve Oud Kasteel - inventaris bouwkundig erfgoed\geheel\plaats.
  4. Crommen-Elst en Scheurpitte.

Other websites change

50°51′N 2°49′E / 50.850°N 2.817°E / 50.850; 2.817