Rural Futures

  Text: Since medieval times, land is being reclaimed from the sea. Here (on the picture), at the edge of the plateau of Izenberge, the old land polder of Veurnambacht is located. This is one of the first polders ever reclaimed from the sea in Flanders. From the moment of land reclamation onwards, the land has been used for pasture (and a bit cropland, although the clay soil is not ideal for this), peat excavation and settlement. Today, the area comprises of Veurne and some small picturesque villages such as Lampernisse that are surrounded by wet grasslands. In most places the old tidal channels (‘krekerige’ in the local dialect) are not present anymore.  However, one ‘fossil’ tidal channel is conserved. Until a few decades ago, the area surrounding this channel has been used as pasture grassland. However in the end of the 20 th century, the Flemish Land Company (Vlaamse Landmaatschappij) has reclaimed this land from agricultural use in a land consolidation effort. Now the tidal chann

  In Flanders there is one little isolated part of Wallonia namely Comines-Warneton. During the excursion Comines-Warneton was never mentioned and also in the excursion guide Comines-Warneton is remarkably absent (figure) because most figures are about Flanders. Our field trip is about border crossing in the Westhoek. During our field trip only the border with France was mentioned but in the Westhoek there is another important border namely the border with Wallonia. More specifically, I am referring to Comines-Warneton which is fully surrounded by Flanders and France. Looking at Belgium it can be said that Comines-Warneton can be seen as an island in Flanders. I think this deserves some more attention. During a small talk with an interviewee before the interview at the village square of Comines-Warneton we talked a little bit about this piece of Wallonia. It makes sense that this village is part of Wallonia because for example most people speak French but it also comes with some bottle

  The hills of the Westhoek give depth to the landscape. I remember very fondly how my dad and me would drive to Kemmel with my grandma, to buy bread and to enjoy the view on the Kemmelberg. Conversations were always connected with the landscape. My dad would tell stories about his childhood, those would come alive by driving through the different places. I remember being grateful whenever I would be there with my grandma. I remember the tour my uncle gave me around the Westhoek, we would have endless conversations. When walking from Oostduinkerke to Nieuwpoort, my grandpa would explain how he placed the white sheets for the airplane that would take photos when he worked for the Flemish Land Company (Vlaamse Landmaatschappij). All my family members are passionate about at least one of the many landscapes in this diverse region. Kris and Luc from ‘Tuinsappen Lombarts Calville’ (http://www.tuinsappen.be/) share their passion for the fauna and flora in the valley of the Wijtschatebeek, wh