The best traffic-free bike rides 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.

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

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.

Centrally located in Poperinge right next to the Hopmuseum. Enjoy a delicious regional beer on the terrace in the inner courtyard or try a snack in the cozy café. The bistro is located between cycle route junctions 16 and 46, the ideal stopping place during your bike tour. The historic Stadsschaal complex includes both the Hopmuseum and the museum café. The site originally belonged to the monastery of the reccolet fathers and until the late 1960s, hops were weighed, inspected, and pressed here. Dirk Frimout, the first Belgian in space, was also born here in 1941.

The Hopmuseum is the ideal starting point for your journey of discovery through the hop and beer world of Westhoek. In the past, this stately building housed the town scale for weighing and inspecting hops. That historical atmosphere still lingers but has received a nice update. In the museum, you will learn about the history of hop cultivation, harvesting, and processing; interspersed with interesting videos about how things are done on farms and breweries today. Admire the Belgian Beer Collection with over 2,500 collected beers, digitized in the 'beer table'. For children, there are various age-appropriate treasure hunts. Open: February 18 - November 30: Tuesday to Sunday & public holidays from 10:00 to 17:30. Every first Sunday of the month, the museum brings the brewery to life. On that day, you can visit the museum for free and enjoy fascinating tours and activities.

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.

At the beginning of the 14th century, Flanders as a whole enjoyed a flourishing cloth industry. The major centers of Ghent, Bruges, and Ypres wanted to protect their own markets. An initial privilege had already been granted for Ypres on October 28, 1322, but it was insufficient. Louis I, Count of Flanders, amended this privilege for Ypres on February 7, 1324. "From then on, no cloth was to be woven, sheared, or dyed within a three-hour radius of Ypres; failure to comply resulted in a fine of 50 pounds and the confiscation of the looms." This proved very unfortunate for Poperinge, which is only 12 km from Ypres. The people of Poperinge resisted this privilege by continuing to produce cloth or engage in other activities related to the cloth industry. According to several "clever" cloth weavers, it was more than a three-hour walk from Poperinge to Ypres. This led to a fierce battle between Poperinge and Ypres. The three Flemish cities launched an army to silence the people of Poperinge. This occurred in May 1341. Both sides lost their leaders in the battle: Jacob Bets at Poperinge and Jan de Houtkerke at Ypres. Poperinge was powerless against the overwhelming force. From then on, cloth would no longer be woven in Poperinge. What was forbidden, however, did happen: cloth production continued in Poperinge. A lawsuit followed, which was lost. This left the feud between Poperinge and Ypres far from over. The people of Poperinge sought a playful way to take revenge. They used the weapon of mockery. The Guild of the Stone was founded in Poperinge (1372), led by Master Ghybe. To this day, a kind of rivalry between Poperinge and Ypres still remains. Hops were grown as an alternative to the defunct cloth trade. Who? Master Ghybe is something of the Don Quixote of Poperinge. He sat backward on a donkey with an 83-pound boulder on a cushion in front of him. He carried pots and pans as armor. He was armed with a ladle and a spit. Along with his followers, dressed like him, he participated in processions and parades. Ghybe wasn't chosen at random; he was the symbol of the three major cities: Ghent, Ypres (Ieper), and Bruges. His donkey represents Flanders, which was poorly governed. The boulder he carried is the symbol of the people of Poperinge. They are also called "keikop" (stone head). Source: Wikipedia