‘Vloethemveld is a part of your life’: A case study in balancing natural and cultural heritage at Vloethemveld (Zedelgem)
Ruth Kindt
Master Erfgoedstudies
2022 — 2023
onderzoek
promotoren
Suzie Thomas
One row of the remaining barracks of the PoW camp
The statue of George and the dragon
Air picture of Camp 2375 and Camp 2229, taken by the American Air Force on the 7th of May 1945
‘Vloethemveld is a part of your life’: A case study in balancing natural and cultural heritage at Vloethemveld (Zedelgem)
A study in how the nature reserve of Vloethemveld can balance out the cultural heritage elements to the natural heritage elements and conserve them for future generations. Specifically focusing on the time the area was a PoW camp after the Second World War.
In 1995 the area of Vloethemveld in Zedelgem (Belgium) became a protected landscape, marking the beginning of nature management campaigns under the ownership of the Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos (Agency of Nature and Forest, ANB).
Despite being a nature reserve, the area also has a long history beginning from Roman times to a military school being stated at the site until the 1980s. The most impactful and still visible of these historic events, are the physical remains of the Prisoner of War (PoW) camp that was stationed at Vloethemveld between February 1945 and July 1946. The presence of these PoW camp remnants causes discussions between the organisations of the Vloethemveld partnership. The natural and cultural heritage elements of the site are in constant imbalance with one another, resulting in a hesitant treatment of the cultural heritage aspects.
This case study of Vloethemveld uncovered the values involved at and local residents attach to contemporary heritage sites with natural and cultural heritage elements. The research was carried out through semi-structured interviews with respondents working with the Vloethemveld partnership or living in the near area.