Vosselare
Encyclopedia
Vosselare is a submunicipality and parish of the community of Nevele
.
Although other explanations are given, the name Vosselare probably originates from 'Vurst' and 'Laar', meaning an open, empty space in a forest.
The heerlijkheid
Vosselare is known from its lord 'Willelmus de Vurslar' or 'de Forselar' (1122, 1125), while his brother Balduinus de Furslare is mentioned in 1130. The family is also mentioned later as Heinric van Vurselare (1364) and Arnold van Vurselaer (1413) but the heerlijkheid
has already previously passed to Thomas van den Turre, who is mentioned as participant in the Battle of the Golden Spurs
in 1302.
Within Vosselare, also the castle of the important heerlijkheid
of the 'Hof Ter Meeren' or 'Hof ter Mere' is situated, belonging to the lords ‘de Meere’ or ‘van der Meere(n)’. This heerlijkheid
covered parts of many neighbouring communities. The casttle was destroyed during World War I
, and was rebuild in 1923-1924.
Also the heerlijkheid
of the 'Goed ter Meersch' is located in Vosselare, of which a large farm with the same name is still remaining. It is supposed to have been a possession of the Knights Templar
, going to the Van der Meersch family in 1314. The castle of the family located at the site of the current farm Goed ter Meersch was destroyed during the Battle of Nevele, 13 Mai 1381.
The village of Vosselare was sacked by the army of Charles de Valois
in 1300. The village also suffered from the battle of Nevele on 13 Mai 1381. On 25 Mai 1452 there was again a battle near the village, between the city Ghent
, under command of Jean Van Melle, and the count of Estampes
. Geuzen
have attacked the church and a farmhouse on 4 October 1575. The village was attacked by French troupes of Louis XIV in Mai 1673, October 1674, January 1675 and during the siege of Ghent in 1678. Six thousand French knights occupied the village and destroyed the harvest on 18 August 1684. The church was pillaged twice in 1688, and again in 1691 and 1696. Mortality also increased between 1676 and 1695 by an (unnamed) epidemic disease.
The church is first mentioned in 1087. Van Hoorebeke argues that it was possibly (one of the) first churches in Flanders with a belltower. A new church building is supposed to be build by the Knights Templar
s at the end of their existence, resulting is a close connection between the church and the noble family Van der Meersch, who are supposed to descend from a Knight Templar. The church was largely destroyed in 1940 and was in 1953 rebuild by the architect Vaerwyck-Suys.
Previously there was a large lime tree named ‘Meerelinde’ at the crossroad leading to the Hof ter Mere castle, which was in 19th century referred too as one of the most impressive trees of Europe. Reports on its circumference at the base vary: 9,20 meter (1856), 9,75 meter (1845), or more than 12 meter (1870). More than 30 people fitted in a cavity in the trunk in 1838. The tree had an age of ca. 800 years in the 19th century.
Nevele
Nevele is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Hansbeke, Landegem, Merendree, Nevele proper, Poesele and Vosselare. On January 1, 2006 Nevele had a total population of 11,217...
.
History
The parish is first mentioned in 694 as Fursitio in the yearbook of the St-Peter Abbey of Ghent, and again in 802. Later on it is referred to as 'Voslariensis ecclesiae' (1087), Vurslar (1122), Vorselar (1125), Furselare (1130), Vurselaer (1140), Vorselaer (1147), Vursselare (1230, 1320, 1579), Vorslaer (1330), Vurselare (1364, 1500) and Vosselare for the first time in 1650. The name ‘Vosselaere’ is also used.Although other explanations are given, the name Vosselare probably originates from 'Vurst' and 'Laar', meaning an open, empty space in a forest.
The heerlijkheid
Heerlijkheid
A heerlijkheid was the basic administrative and judicial unit in rural areas in Dutch-speaking lands before 1800. It originated in the feudal subdivision of government authority in the Middle Ages. The closest English equivalents of the word are "seigniory" and "manor"...
Vosselare is known from its lord 'Willelmus de Vurslar' or 'de Forselar' (1122, 1125), while his brother Balduinus de Furslare is mentioned in 1130. The family is also mentioned later as Heinric van Vurselare (1364) and Arnold van Vurselaer (1413) but the heerlijkheid
Heerlijkheid
A heerlijkheid was the basic administrative and judicial unit in rural areas in Dutch-speaking lands before 1800. It originated in the feudal subdivision of government authority in the Middle Ages. The closest English equivalents of the word are "seigniory" and "manor"...
has already previously passed to Thomas van den Turre, who is mentioned as participant in the Battle of the Golden Spurs
Battle of the Golden Spurs
The Battle of the Golden Spurs, known also as the Battle of Courtrai was fought on July 11, 1302, near Kortrijk in Flanders...
in 1302.
Within Vosselare, also the castle of the important heerlijkheid
Heerlijkheid
A heerlijkheid was the basic administrative and judicial unit in rural areas in Dutch-speaking lands before 1800. It originated in the feudal subdivision of government authority in the Middle Ages. The closest English equivalents of the word are "seigniory" and "manor"...
of the 'Hof Ter Meeren' or 'Hof ter Mere' is situated, belonging to the lords ‘de Meere’ or ‘van der Meere(n)’. This heerlijkheid
Heerlijkheid
A heerlijkheid was the basic administrative and judicial unit in rural areas in Dutch-speaking lands before 1800. It originated in the feudal subdivision of government authority in the Middle Ages. The closest English equivalents of the word are "seigniory" and "manor"...
covered parts of many neighbouring communities. The casttle was destroyed during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and was rebuild in 1923-1924.
Also the heerlijkheid
Heerlijkheid
A heerlijkheid was the basic administrative and judicial unit in rural areas in Dutch-speaking lands before 1800. It originated in the feudal subdivision of government authority in the Middle Ages. The closest English equivalents of the word are "seigniory" and "manor"...
of the 'Goed ter Meersch' is located in Vosselare, of which a large farm with the same name is still remaining. It is supposed to have been a possession of the Knights Templar
Knights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
, going to the Van der Meersch family in 1314. The castle of the family located at the site of the current farm Goed ter Meersch was destroyed during the Battle of Nevele, 13 Mai 1381.
The village of Vosselare was sacked by the army of Charles de Valois
Charles of Valois
Charles of Valois was the fourth son of Philip III of France and Isabella of Aragon. His mother was a daughter of James I of Aragon and Yolande of Hungary. He was a member of the House of Capet and founded the House of Valois...
in 1300. The village also suffered from the battle of Nevele on 13 Mai 1381. On 25 Mai 1452 there was again a battle near the village, between the city Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
, under command of Jean Van Melle, and the count of Estampes
Estampes
Estampes , L.100, is a composition for solo piano by Claude Debussy. It was finished in 1903.It consists of three movements:# Pagodes - approx. 6 minutes.# Soirée dans Grenade - approx. 5½ minutes....
. Geuzen
Geuzen
Geuzen was a name assumed by the confederacy of Calvinist Dutch nobles and other malcontents, who from 1566 opposed Spanish rule in the Netherlands. The most successful group of them operated at sea, and so were called Watergeuzen...
have attacked the church and a farmhouse on 4 October 1575. The village was attacked by French troupes of Louis XIV in Mai 1673, October 1674, January 1675 and during the siege of Ghent in 1678. Six thousand French knights occupied the village and destroyed the harvest on 18 August 1684. The church was pillaged twice in 1688, and again in 1691 and 1696. Mortality also increased between 1676 and 1695 by an (unnamed) epidemic disease.
The church is first mentioned in 1087. Van Hoorebeke argues that it was possibly (one of the) first churches in Flanders with a belltower. A new church building is supposed to be build by the Knights Templar
Knights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
s at the end of their existence, resulting is a close connection between the church and the noble family Van der Meersch, who are supposed to descend from a Knight Templar. The church was largely destroyed in 1940 and was in 1953 rebuild by the architect Vaerwyck-Suys.
Previously there was a large lime tree named ‘Meerelinde’ at the crossroad leading to the Hof ter Mere castle, which was in 19th century referred too as one of the most impressive trees of Europe. Reports on its circumference at the base vary: 9,20 meter (1856), 9,75 meter (1845), or more than 12 meter (1870). More than 30 people fitted in a cavity in the trunk in 1838. The tree had an age of ca. 800 years in the 19th century.