Visit Noordpeene, a Flemish village

Noordpeene, a village with a rich past, owes its name to the Dutch "Noord" (north) and "peene", designating the small river which crosses the town. The first written mentions date back to 1114 in the form "Norpenes" then evolved into "Northpenes" in 1139.

In the 1268th century, Noordpeene came under the jurisdiction of Watten Abbey. In 1464, the lordship of Pienne was divided between two brothers, giving rise to Pienne-Nord (Noordpeene) and Pienne-Sud (Zuytpeene), thus splitting the territory into two separate entities. In 1566, the installation of monks from the Order of Saint William, invited by the powerful Hallewyn family, helped to strengthen the religious and cultural influence of the village. Around XNUMX, the locality was elevated to the rank of marquisate, thus reinforcing its social and political importance in the region.

A major event marks the history of Noordpeene: the Battle of the Peene, on 11 April 1677. This decisive battle in the Dutch War pitted the army of Louis XIV against the allied troops of the United Provinces, Spain and England. The French victory allowed the annexation of part of Flanders to France, including Saint-Omer as well as the castellanies of Cassel, Bailleul and Ypres, leaving a lasting mark on regional history.

At the turn of the revolutionary period, in 1785, Noordpeene was elevated to a marquisate under the name of Louverval.

 During the French Revolution, the local priest distinguished himself by his virulent sermons against the sale of national property, thus affirming the community's resistance to the upheavals of the time.

During the Second World War, the village suffered severe hardships. A V1 launch pad, a firing bunker and various military buildings were located at the place called "Moulin du Hey". In 1944, heavy bombings cost the lives of six civilians, including four children. Liberated on 6 September 1944 by Canadian troops, Noordpeene was subsequently decorated with the Croix de guerre 1939-1945, recalling the resilience and courage of its inhabitants in the face of the horrors of war.

Noordpeene has a rich built heritage and several historical monuments:

Historic Monuments

Saint-Denis Church: Built in 1509, it was remodeled after an earthquake in 1692. The bell tower and its spire have been listed as historic monuments since 1932.

Noordpeene Castle : Also called “Château de la Tour”, it is listed as a historical monument.

The obelisk of the Battle of Peene : Erected in 1865 on the border of Zuytpeene and Noordpeene, it commemorates the battle of 1677.

Other elements of built heritage

The Guillemites Convent : Established around 1468, only the porch dating from 1741 and the name “convent farm” remain.

The House of the Battle of Peene : An interpretation centre opened in April 2007, presenting the Battle of the Peene and daily life in Flanders in the 18th century.

Listed items inside the church

• The funeral slab of Lord Baudouin de la Tour and his wife Lyonne de Ghistelles-Esquelbecq (16th century).
• An 18th century painting of the Ascension, painted by Elias Mathieu.
• The baptismal font dates from the 12th century.
• A calvary located outside the building.

Noordpeene has been part of the Village Patrimoine network since 2009, highlighting the richness of its historical and architectural heritage.

The history of the Saint Denis church in Noordpeene begins in 1509, when the original building was constructed. However, an earthquake in 1692 left only the bell tower, located at the very heart of the building, at the crossing of the transept, remaining. The current structure dates mainly from the end of the XNUMXth century and marks a clear break with the original layout. Indeed, the old hall church, called "hallekerque" in Flemish, consisted of three naves of identical dimensions, while the new construction, in neo-Gothic style, has a central nave flanked by two smaller side aisles.

Among the remarkable elements, the bell tower and its spire, decorated with a series of faces sculpted along the edges, are protected as Historic Monuments. The entrance door, from the old church, retains the drum decorated with the intertwined letters O and L, an 1658th century masterpiece. In the gallery, stands the painting "The Ascension of the Lord" by Mathieu Elias, a painter born in Zuytpeene in XNUMX, while an altarpiece from the original building, decorated with two wooden angels, recalls the origins of the place.

The 1503th century baptismal font, sculpted in black Tournai stone and decorated with the tree of temptation representing Adam and Eve in olive wood, is a rare treasure in Flanders. The tombstone of Baudouin de la Tour and Lyonne de Ghistelles-Esquelbecq (1900), two exceptional stained glass windows (the baptism of Christ and the Crucifixion) signed by Charles Louis Koch in 1908, as well as the plaster statues of Saint Rita and Our Lady of Lourdes (XNUMX) add to the riches of this building. Finally, the neo-Gothic altarpieces, works of Louis Bellis, complete this exceptional religious heritage.

Here are the accommodation options in Noordpeene and the nearby surroundings:

Bed and Breakfasts in Noordpeene

• Mont Balenberg Gîtes and B&Bs – Address: 281 Chemin du Moulin, 59670 Noordpeene – Telephone: +33 7 61 90 98 68

• Gites le Ménégat – Address: 1343 Route de Watten, 59670 Noordpeene – Telephone: +33 6 29 90 88 95

• Little Paradise from Noordpeene, located on Chemin du Petit Paradis in Noordpeene – 06 29 69 53 88.

Accommodation nearby

• Kasteelveld Manor (Bavinchove) – Address: 465 Rue du Château, 59670 Bavinchove – Telephone: +33 6 99 37 41 40
• La Chaumiere Campsite (Buysscheure) – Address: 501 Langhemast Straete, 59285 Buysscheure – Telephone: +33 3 28 43 03 57
• Schoebeque Chatellerie (Cassel) – Address: 32 Rue du Maréchal Foch, 59670 Cassel – Telephone: +33 3 28 42 42 67. Refined hotel with terrace, spa and bar
• Winter Garden Cassel – Address: 45 Rue du Maréchal Foch, 59670 Cassel – Telephone: +33 6 78 27 87 65

In Noordpeene you have the following options for eating and drinking:

• Peene Inn: This restaurant offers traditional cuisine and is labeled Café Rando. 03 28 49 20 37
• Nearby: La Baguarnette by Isnor or Al'cabane, restaurants located in Clairmarais, and The Piquinettes, open-air tavern of the Boat Makers located on the Clairmarais road in Saint-Omer (0608099488)

Here are some ideas for walks and hikes in Noordpeene and its surroundings:

• Circuit around NoordpeeneThis 8 km circuit offers typical Flemish viewpoints passing at the foot of Mount Cassel.
• “In the Heart of the Battle” Loop. This signposted route crosses the Dutch and Spanish camp and provides an insight into the Battle of Peene in 1677.
• “The Bittern” Trail (4,1 km): trail starting from Grange Nature in Clairmarais, crosses the National Nature Reserve of the Etangs du Romelaere (6 km from Noordpeene).
• “La Cuvette” Circuit (17 km) – A large loop between Nieurlet and Clairmarais which allows you to vary the landscapes between wild marshes, cultivated marshes and forest. Find the circuit on IGNhike.

To plan your hike, you can use the region's network of nodes, which allows you to create tailor-made routes by connecting numbered markers.

Here are the main recurring events and traditional festivals in Noordpeene:

• Noordpeene celebrates : An annual local festival that usually takes place in August. It includes a meal, entertainment, a hike, a pétanque tournament, a concert, sparklers and fireworks.
• Heritage Days : Noordpeene and the Maison de la Bataille 1677 participate in the European Heritage Days which take place every year in September.

The village of Noordpeene only includes a very small part of the Audomarois marsh located to the north-east of the Clairmarais forest.

It is nevertheless possible to visit the marsh nearby, notably with ISNOR or the Faiseurs de Bateaux ¼ hour from the village (43 route de Clairmarais 62500 Saint-Omer – 06.08.09.94.88).

To go to Noordpeene by bus, here are the available options:

• Rainbow Network: The 927S of the Rainbow Network serve Noordpeene. Line 927S stops at “NOORDPEENE – Rue de l'Eglise” and “NOORDPEENE – Castier Houck”.

• Transport on demand: A transport on demand service is available on the routes Rubrouck/Arnèke/Ochtezeele/Noordpeene/Zuytpeene/Zermezeele/Wemaers-Cappel/Cassel/Oxelaëre/Bavinchove and Oudezeele/Winnezeele/Steenvoorde/Terdeghem/Cassel/Oxelaëre /Bavinchove/Sainte-Marie-Cappel. To do this, go to the CCHF website (Community of Communes of Hauts de Flandre.

• New free bus network (summer 2025): A new free bus network across the Heart of Flanders is being rolled out and should be operational by summer 2025.