The best cycling routes around Steenvoorde

The Sint-Ackaarsbos in Houtkerke. In the local dialect and on old maps, this forest is also often called the Sint-Achaarsbosch. The name refers to Saint Acharius (Saint-Accaire), a 7th-century bishop who was venerated in this region (the old diocese of Tournai-Noyon). The name of the village itself literally means "the church in the wood (forest)". The Sint-Ackaarsbos is one of the last remnants of the large forests that formerly covered this part of the French Westhoek.

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Nice Statue of Eliane Cossey (Poperinge, 9 December 1902 – London, 1942), known by the nickname Ginger, was a striking red-haired precocious child in the Belgian town of Poperinge during the First World War. The café "A la Poupée", an unpronounceable name for English speakers, on the main square grew under the name "Ginger's" into one of the most famous taverns behind "The Ypres Salient". The appeal of the young diva can be read in various diary excerpts and in the Visitors Book with compliments and drawings. Ginger krijgt eigen standbeeld https://www.hln.be/.../ginger-krijgt-eigen-standbeeld.../

nicest cafe in poperinge

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It was from Steenvoorde that the Beeldenstorm spread rapidly throughout the Netherlands. In the church, you can still see a bell from the Laurentius Monastery. The Beeldenstorm began here with the shattering of all the statues and furnishings of this monastery. No trace remains of the monastery itself, located a few kilometers from Steenvoorde. Only a place name, Gallicized to Saint-Laurent, now a rest stop along the Lille-Dunkirk motorway, remains as a reminder. The church itself has a turbulent history. After falling victim to the Beeldenstorm in 1566, it burned down in 1576, was destroyed by the French in 1644, and was rebuilt in late Gothic style between 1660 and 1664. The tower dates from 1712, and the brick spire was built in 1890 and 1891. In May 1940, the church was again severely damaged. In 1950 it was restored.

An initiative of the city council and the Heemkring Aan de Schreve. Ginger was the name British soldiers gave to Eliane Cossey, a precocious girl with ginger hair – she was 12 years old at the start of the war – who worked in her parents' café, "A la Poupée," on the Grote Markt in Poperinge. Hence the name Ginger, which means reddish or ginger. Ginger was a household name among the British. Because A la Poupée was an unpronounceable name for the British, the café, under the name "Ginger's," grew into one of the most famous taverns behind "The Ypres Salient." The young diva's appeal can be read in various diary entries of British soldiers. Ginger became a household name among British WWI soldiers. For many, she embodied a memory of everyday human life, which they carried with them like a spark in their hearts during the hell of the trenches. A signed photo of Ginger was one of the most sought-after souvenirs among soldiers. After the war, Eliane Cossey, known as "Ginger," remained a household name among the British. When the mayor of Poperinge was invited to London in 1928 to thank him for his hospitality, this provoked protests from British veterans. If anyone embodied hospitality, it was Ginger, and so it happened: Eliane was received at Buckingham Palace on December 8, 1928, and showered with flowers at the Albert Hall. Eliane later married a self-employed man from Bruges, with whom she moved to Ireland and later to London. She died during a bombing raid in 1942, at the age of 40. Her daughters were also present. Ginger's two daughters—both elderly women—were present at the statue's unveiling on the Grote Markt this afternoon. The statue was created by Poperinge artist Nele Boudry, who has her studio in the south of France. The life-size bronze statue depicts a graceful Ginger with a tray in one hand and leaning on a chair with the other. Visitors/tourists can sit on the chair and take a photo of themselves with Ginger.

During World War I, Poperinge was part of a small, unoccupied part of Belgium. The town grew into the nerve center of the British sector, away from the turmoil of the front lines. In the heart of this bustling town, chaplains Neville Talbot and Philip "Tubby" Clayton opened a clubhouse in December 1915. Soldiers and nurses of all ranks left the violence of war behind to enjoy a rare moment of peace and relaxation. Even today, Talbot House offers a warm and authentic welcome. The permanent exhibition relives Talbot House's history. And in the concert hall, the Happy Hoppers put on a real show. Out and about with children? Discover the various quests. Finally, you can relax in the garden, perhaps with a delicious Westhoek picnic! Looking for a more extensive Talbot House experience? Spend a night in the guesthouse and enjoy your English breakfast in the morning!