Reningelst: Village History and Routes

In Reningelst, church history, brewing heritage and routes through open countryside come together. The history of the village centre also shapes the place: numerous bombings during the First World War destroyed it. Today, the village centre is designated as a protected village scene. Reningelst therefore offers a variety of things to discover – from architectural history and traces of brewing to walking and cycling routes.

Church, Brewery and Malt Tower

East of Reningelstplein stands Sint-Vedastus Church. Around 1200, it was a Romanesque basilica; later, it was converted into a Gothic hall church. Those interested in the development of historic architectural styles can see a tangible transformation in a single building: its original Romanesque form and subsequent Gothic conversion belong to different periods in its history.

Another historical highlight is Sint-Joris Brewery, whose origins date back at least to the mid-17th century. The brewery and malt house buildings were restored and repurposed as De Kinderbrouwerij in 2012. The Malt Tower is also part of the brewery’s history: it was built in 1913 as part of a major modernisation and has been used as an observation tower since 2023. From there, the view stretches across the village of Reningelst, the Grote Beek valley and the West Flemish hills. Here, history and landscape come together in a view encompassing several clearly named parts of the surrounding area.

Walking between the village square and the countryside

The signposted Lindegoed Route starts at Sint-Vedastus Church in the village centre and is 10 kilometres long. The route passes through open countryside with wide stream valleys, fertile fields, hop fields and meadows around Reningelst. The route’s features are also useful for practical planning: the Lindegoed Route has only gentle slopes and runs mostly along paved roads.

The Zevekote Route offers a different option: it is 7 kilometres long, starts in Reningelst’s village square and passes through undulating terrain. Compared with the 10-kilometre Lindegoed Route, it is shorter but has a different terrain profile. The Zevekote Route passes through undulating terrain, while the Lindegoed Route has only gentle slopes and runs mostly along paved roads.

Three suggested circular routes start from the play area at De Kinderbrouwerij: they are 5.4, 7.5 or 11 kilometres long. The signposted Heuvelland cycling route starts at the church in Reningelst and covers 52.4 kilometres. There is also Voetweg 54, a direct, car-free walking link between Reningelst and Westouter. The Kleine Flandrien in spé route starts at De Kinderbrouwerij on Reningelstplein. The different starting points and route details give you several specific options when you want to include a walk or a cycling tour in your trip plans.

Traces of the First and Second World Wars

The cemeteries also preserve different chapters of history. Reninghelst New Military Cemetery opened in Reningelst in November 1915, next to the medical aid stations in the boys’ school. Grootebeek British Cemetery is the burial place of 109 people who died in the First World War and 2 who died in the Second World War. Together with the destruction of the village centre by bombing during the First World War, these sites point to different aspects of Reningelst’s wartime history.

Choosing the right location for your trip

If you are looking for a holiday home in Reningelst, your travel interests can help you choose a location: will brewery history, a particular walking route or a cycling tour shape your stay? The church, the village square and the play area at De Kinderbrouwerij are different starting points for the routes mentioned. When choosing accommodation, consider which starting point matters for your plans. This way, you can choose a location based on the activities you actually want to do, rather than on a general idea of the place.

Discover more destinations: Watou, Roesbrugge-Haringe, Proven.

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