Pollinkhove between polder landscape, walking trails and history

Pollinkhove lies at the transition from the polder to a plateau and combines open landscapes with an unusually rich history. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Pollinkhove can choose between walks through the polders, longer hikes and cultural and historical discoveries. The journey does not lead only to individual buildings: dykes, rows of trees, waterways and traces of former land use also shape the character of the area.

Walking between the polders and the IJzer

The Zavelpad is a walking trail through the polders and the sandy loam region around Pollinkhove. Another option is the Beverdijk walking route. It starts at the Sint-Bartholomeus Church in Pollinkhove, is included as a suggested circular route in the IJzervallei walking network map and remains signposted. This allows you to plan your day around either a shorter walk or a marked circular route.

For a longer route, the Westhoektrail Roesbrugge-Pollinkhove is available. The trail is 12 to 17.5 kilometres long and passes through the flooded IJzer Valley. Its route uses towpaths, quiet roads and unpaved paths. For this hike, a dial-a-bus takes hikers to Roesbrugge; from there, the route follows the IJzer back to Pollinkhove. The journey must be booked at least two hours in advance. The Fintelepad also passes historic sites such as the Machuutmolen.

Water landscapes and notable sites

The landscape around De Fintele includes dykes on both sides and rows of trees along the Lovaart. Reeds and low shrubs grow along the banks. The hamlet of De Fintele is protected as a village scene and lies at the confluence of the Lovaart and the IJzer. Its development can be traced back to an overtoom, or winch, that existed there from around 1100 onwards. The foundation stone for the present lock complex at De Fintele was laid in 1827. The Elzendamme Bridge in Pollinkhove crosses an old arm of the IJzer.

The buildings also tell different chapters in the history of the area. The Markeymolen was built in 1797 by millwright Jan Frans Verhaeghe and is a protected monument. The Margriet or Machuutmolen is a stone tower mill of the ground-sailor type that was used as a flour mill. The Margrietmolen was built around 1870 by Arsène Couzyn as a replacement for the Hullebrugmolen, located 400 metres to the east. At the Tempeliershoeve, the walled upper courtyard includes a double-arched bridge with a gateway.

Discovering history consciously

Those interested in the region’s past will find several different memorial sites in Pollinkhove. On 13 January 1943, a B-17 bomber crashed in the Groene Boomgaard district of Pollinkhove. The B17 Pollinkhove monument includes a memorial stone bearing the names of the ten soldiers. The monument at the Machuut redoubt, erected on 25 April 1999, commemorates twelve residents of Pollinkhove who fell in battle against the French invaders on 25 April 1794.

The right base for planning your trip

When looking for a holiday apartment in Pollinkhove, you can first consider which daily rhythm suits your trip. The polder paths and the Zavelpad are ideal for peaceful explorations on foot, while the Westhoektrail offers a considerably longer route with different types of surfaces. For days focused on culture, you can include mills, De Fintele, bridges, the lock complex and the memorial sites in your plans. This keeps your choice of accommodation connected to your desired mix of landscape, activity and history, without limiting yourself to just one way of exploring.

For further trip planning, you can also consider Noordschote.

For the overview of the wider area: Lo-Reninge.