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The St. Anthony's Chapel is a chapel in the hamlet of Zalfen, located near Salphen, which is part of the Antwerp municipality of Malle. Nearby Oostmalle was hit by a plague epidemic around 1625. Around 60 sick people reportedly fled to the heath. A certain Adriaan Mattheeusen, who lost three children to the disease, had to bury them on the heath and built a chapel for this purpose. This chapel was soon also used for funeral services, and the deceased were buried in a nearby cemetery. The chapel attracted pilgrims and was therefore expanded in 1726. https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sint-Antoniuskapel_(Zalfen)

pleasant picnic area with brand new oak benches, both under cover and outdoors.

It's always worth taking a closer look...

Hof d'Intere is a Renaissance castle in Wechelderzande. It is located at Pastorijstraat 2 and dates back to 1649. The castle's name is older, dating from 1440, when Philip the Good granted the towns of Wechelderzande, Gierle, and Lille as a fief to Ambrosius van Dinther. The "laathof" (court) held its meetings in the local inn, which was called Hof d'Intere or Hof van Dynter, after the name Van Dinther. Later, this fief passed to Johan de Proost, lord of Wechelderzande. He built the current castle on the basis of an existing castle dating back to the 16th century. In 1686, it became the property of the pastor of Wechelderzande after Johan de Proost was forced to sell it. The house then served as a rectory from 1688 to 1964 and then as the town hall until 1977. This was when municipal reorganization took place, and since then it has been a municipal center with a library and park. In 1939, the building was classified as a protected monument. In 2019, it was announced that the library would be closed and that the municipality of Lille would reconsider the castle's future purpose.

The church boasts the painting: Glorification of Saint Amelberga by Theodoor Boeyermans (1664), a Descent from the Cross by Cornelis de Vos (1626), and Our Lady with Child Giving the Rosary to Saint Dominic by Michiel Coxie. There are also several statues, including Saint Amelberga (15th or 16th century), Our Lady (circa 1600), Saint Hubert (circa 1700), Saints Peter and Paul (17th century), Saint Sebastian (18th century), and a Triumphal Cross (1525). The northern portico altar, dedicated to Our Lady, dates from the early 17th century. The southern portico altar, dedicated to Saint Amelberga, dates from the same period. The organ dates from 1832 and was made by Delhaye. The baptismal font is 17th century and has a 16th century Gothic stone base.

Ecclesiastically, Wechelderzande was a subsidiary church of Poederlee, which in turn was dependent on the parish of Vorselaar. In 1321, Poederlee, along with Wechelderzande, was separated from Vorselaar, and in 1572, Wechelderzande became an independent parish, as was Poederlee. The current tower was built around 1500, and the spire was renewed in 1674-1675. In 1852, a new church was built to a design by Eugeen Gife, retaining the tower. In 1861, a neo-Gothic window was added above the entrance. In 1995-1996, the church and tower were renovated. It is a neo-Gothic brick pseudo-basilica with a west tower in the Kempen Gothic style. The west tower has five sections and a constricted spire. The choir is enclosed on three sides.

delicious ice cream

On March 13, 1440, Philip the Good granted Wechelderzande, along with Gierle and Lille, as a fief to Ambrosius de Dynter. The court of justice, or the alderman's court, of the feudal lordship was therefore named Hof d'Intere. The court held its meetings in a village inn. The Hof d'Intere building was erected in 1649 by the lord of Wechelderzande, Jonker Jan de Proost or Johan de Proost. The newly built, impressive residence was named Hof d'Intere: partly because it was built on a plot of land that belonged to the fiefdom under the jurisdiction of the Hof d'Intere, and partly because Johan de Proost had acquired the rights to this fiefdom and was therefore entitled to use the title "Lord of Dynter." From 1686 to 1964, Hof d'Intere served as the parsonage of Wechelderzande. Later it served as the town hall of Wechelderzande until the merger in 1977. After that it was used for a while as the municipal council, reception, ceremony and wedding hall of the municipality.