Visit to Vloethemveld - Zedelgem

A rich past We are going to visit this area with a rich cultural-historical past, in which among others the Count of Flanders, the Saint Janshospitaal van Brugge, the surrounding sheep farms, and the Tweede Wereldoorlog play an important role, with a guide on November 15. It will be a unique visit to an area with unspoiled nature, a military past, and memories of a prisoner-of-war camp with art made by the prisoners. In Vloethemveld housed a Prisoners of War Camp, a British prisoner-of-war camp and one of the most important prisoner-of-war camps in Europe, from 1944 to 1946. During that period, more than 100,000 prisoners of war passed through here, crammed into four camps. The prisoners of the camp in Zedelgem were members of mainly German and Baltic military formations who had lost the war. Many had adhered to Nazi ideology, and some retained this ideology while in captivity. Only a small portion of them were prosecuted for their crimes. Many changes In recent years, a large part of the Vloethemveld has undergone a true metamorphosis. Through nature restoration works, the heathland was given new opportunities. The forest was expanded on both sides of the Vloethemveld, the welcome parking lot moved from the nature reserve to the other side of the Diksmuidse Heirweg, the Vloethemveldzate was redesigned, a new field pond was created, and remediation works ensured nature restoration and de-paving. The former ammunition depot of the Vloethemveld is a unique area with top European nature! Among others, the three heather species - common heather, cross-leaved heath, and bell heather - are exceptional, as well as the many rare insects including the green hairstreak butterfly, the bog bush cricket, and the brilliant emerald dragonfly. The area is also known for its birds of prey: common buzzard, Eurasian sparrowhawk, Eurasian hobby, peregrine falcon, and common kestrel are commonly observed from the Heath Tower, where you can also enjoy the view. With some luck, you might also spot a European honey buzzard, northern goshawk, western marsh harrier, or western osprey. More at Vloethemveld De heritage of the British prisoner-of-war camp on the Vloethemveld site