Sint-Martens-Latem: Art, Floodplains and Water Experiences

Sint-Martens-Latem combines art history with a varied river floodplain landscape and special opportunities on the Leie. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment for a culture- and nature-oriented stay will find a range of starting points for planning each day: historic sites, museums, wetlands, a distinctive avenue and a water experience at the town hall.

Art and History in the Townscape

A prominent landmark is the Koutermolen on the Mühlenkouter, east of the church. The wooden grain windmill dates from the early 17th century and belongs to the type of post mill with an enclosed base. It is considered the only surviving mill of this kind in the Oost-Vlaamse Leiestreek. This makes it a worthwhile point of interest for anyone who wants to discover not only the landscape but also the region's architectural and technological history during their trip.

The Sint-Martinuskerk was first mentioned in 1121 as the property of Ghent's Sint-Baafs Abbey. The Gemeentelijk Museum Gust De Smet offers another insight into local art history. It is located in the last home and studio of the Flemish Expressionist Gust De Smet (1877–1943). At the Gemeentelijk Museum Gevaert-Minne, you can see works of art from the great classical period of the Leie village of Sint-Martens-Latem. The museum is located in the former home of Edgar Gevaert (1891–1965); his former painting studio can still be recognised by the large windows.

The Dhondt-Dhaenens Museum complements this cultural side with an art collection whose works date from between 1880 and 1950. This allows you to focus your stay more strongly on individual artists, historic homes or the region's artistic development, depending on your interests.

River Floodplains, Water and Nature Observation

The Leiemeersen preserve characteristic elements of a river floodplain: a riverbank ridge, basin areas, a Pleistocene sand island, as well as a dune foot and dune. The Westerplas adds its own distinctive landscape feature. The 6.5-hectare nature area includes permanent water, wet meadows and mudflats. During high water, these areas are flooded; during low water, they dry out. Since its creation, around 214 different bird species have been observed there.

These differences make Sint-Martens-Latem interesting for travel plans with a changing rhythm. One day can be devoted to art, another to the landscape and bodies of water. Anyone who wants to experience the Leie actively can rent SUP boards at the Tempelhof next to the town hall, at the level of Dorp 5 in Sint-Martens-Latem, for a tour on the Leie. When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday house, it is therefore above all important to decide whether you want to focus on museums, nature observation or a water experience.

Historic Routes and Practical Information

Rode Beukendreef is a 1,000-metre-long avenue that once led to a castle estate. After the estate was replaced by a subdivision in 1954, a double row of trees remained as a relic. The site therefore tells not only of the landscape but also of changes in its former use.

A hiking map for the BLOB family treasure hunt is available at the town hall counter and at the Gevaert-Minne Museum. You can obtain a local brochure at the town hall or in the museums during opening hours. This makes it possible to prepare your stay around a particular theme without limiting the trip to a single experience. For more ideas in the area, you can also look at Deurle.

Further destinations for research: Ninove, Kruibeke, Zwalm, Eeklo, Nevele, Beveren and Kruishoutem.

For the higher-level travel overview: East Flanders.