Oeselgem: Discover History, Churches and Trails

Oeselgem is a destination for travellers who want to combine their stay with history, religious architecture and paths through the countryside. Between an old branch of the Leie, historic buildings and themed routes, the village presents a varied picture. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Oeselgem, you can choose your accommodation based on whether you mainly want to discover culture, go hiking or take a cycling tour.

Historic Traces in Oeselgem

A special place is the historic Hoeve Ten Walle. It is located between the road and an old branch of the Leie on the former grounds of the village lord's castle in Oeselgem. This combination of a rural farmstead, waterway and local history makes Hoeve Ten Walle an interesting destination for anyone who wants to get to know Oeselgem not only as a starting point, but also in its historical details.

The history of the village also includes the Catholic school of Oeselgem. It began operating in 1879; the first buildings at the current location on Wakkenstraat were constructed in the same year. The monastery building of Monastery and school dates from 1914 to 1918 and was built in the Gothic Revival style. Anyone interested in architecture and the development of historic village structures will find several distinct traces of different periods here.

Churches and Chapels by the Leie Branch

St Martin's Church in Oeselgem stands beside an old branch of the Leie, next to its churchyard. Three identical Gothic Revival pillar chapels stand beside the church. They represent different stations of the suffering of Saint Apollonia. Today's St Martin's Church was built in 1720 to replace the Gothic church and was consecrated on 20 October 1720 by the Bishop of Ghent, P. E. Van der Noot.

A chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Halle stands in the southeastern part of the churchyard. The Chapel of Our Lady has a round-arched image niche depicting Saint Mary with the Child, a wrought-iron cross and round windows in both side walls. St Martin's Church in Oeselgem is open only during services; services take place by appointment. This information is important for planning your day if you would like to see the interior.

Hiking, Cycling and Historical Experiences

The Neerhoek walking trail is a local hiking initiative focusing on the dramatic events of the Second World War in Neerhoek, Oeselgem. The trail has existed since 2010. A separately named option is the Neerhoek–May 1940 walking route. It is approximately 8.1 km long and includes 16 memorial points. The choice of trail therefore also depends on whether you want to learn about a themed initiative or include a route with several specific places of remembrance in your plans.

The “Dentergem doorkruist” route takes you in Oeselgem to historic sites and places of interest. Additional text, image and audio content is provided at the locations along the route. This allows you to use the route not only as a path, but also as a guided exploration of historical connections. For a longer cycling tour, the 42 km recreational cycling route “Een rondje Dentergem”, which leads to the church in Oeselgem, is an option.

Choosing the Right Starting Point

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Oeselgem, it is worth first deciding on your preferred travel pace. Culture enthusiasts can focus on the churches, chapels, Hoeve Ten Walle and the historic school buildings. For a more active trip, the Neerhoek walking trail, the approximately 8.1 km-long memorial route or the 42 km cycling loop can be considered as different focal points. The Vijvestraat, a historic trade-route connection on the slope of the Leie Valley, leads towards Sint-Baafs-Vijve, Wielsbeke and Ooigem and adds to the picture of the region's history of routes.

If you would like to explore pages about other places in addition to Oeselgem, you can also visit Wakken. This allows you to combine your search for suitable accommodation with the selection of additional destinations without losing sight of Oeselgem's cultural and historic character.

For the overarching travel overview: Dentergem.