Discover Handzame

Handzame combines local history, an industrial past and culinary specialities to create a destination with many tangible discoveries. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment in Handzame can focus their stay entirely on culture and history: guided tours of the Tabakfabriek, a walk through the centre, historic buildings and memorial sites offer different ways to explore the town.

Historic townscape around Handzameplein

Handzame developed on a strip of land in the floodplain of “Hand”. An important point of reference for the town’s history is Handzameplein. Its present layout largely follows the design shown in the Atlas of Buurtwegen from around 1844. This means that the square can be viewed not only as a public space, but also as part of Handzame’s long-established structure.

A lively Friday market was held on Handzameplein from the 19th century—from its foundation in 1815 and the granting of market rights in 1842—until the Second World War. Goods on offer included butter, eggs, meat, textiles and ironmongery. Anyone interested in local traditions and the former provision of a town will find an accessible insight into Handzame’s history here.

Church and Tabakfabriek

The Sint-Hadrianuskerk is a Gothic three-aisled hall church dating from 1614. It is considered the only parish church in West Flanders dedicated to Saint Hadrianus. For culturally interested visitors, it is one of the notable historical features of Handzame.

Another focus is the Tabakfabriek Handzame. The visitor centre presents the history of the tobacco factory and of Handzame. In addition, groups of up to 25 people can reserve a guided tour of the present-day NEOS factory in the Tabakfabriek Handzame year-round, but only on weekdays, at a cost of 70 euros per tour. If you would like to include this insight in your plans, the weekday-only restriction is important when organising your trip.

The WWI tour in the centre of Handzame lasts two hours and can be booked year-round. It complements the industrial history with another perspective on the town’s past. A historical exploration of Handzame also covers the airfield, the Pionierspark and the railway station as important points of reference during the war years. The war memorial commemorates the military and civilian dead of the First and Second World Wars from Handzame and the hamlet of Edewalle.

Local flavour and suitable travel planning

Regional food culture can also form part of a stay. The shop at Handsaeme Foie Gras offers products made from duck, goose and wild boar. This visit adds its own culinary accent and complements the historical impressions with a local speciality.

When choosing accommodation, it is therefore useful to begin by considering the type of trip you want. A holiday apartment in Handzame suits a stay in which you would like to combine guided tours, local history, historical explorations and culinary discoveries. If you are planning to visit the Tabakfabriek or take the WWI tour, you should include the respective booking conditions in your stay planning. This leaves enough time to get to know Handzame from different perspectives without limiting the trip to just one area of interest.

For the overarching travel overview: Kortemark.