Top 12 Lakes around Moorslede

The Bergelen Provincial Estate in Wevelgem developed around a 10-hectare artificial sand extraction pit. The sand was used for the construction of the E403 (A17) motorway in the early 1970s. The municipality purchased this pit and surrounding land between 1989 and 1995. Various planting activities and numerous management works (reprofiling the banks, creating a water berm, building observation huts and walls, creating walking paths, constructing a bat shelter, digging ponds, etc.) were carried out by the municipal council. This created a small but very interesting nature reserve. In 1996, the farm and the 29 hectares of surrounding agricultural land were purchased by the province, and large parts of the newly acquired area were afforested. In 1999, the province entered into a lease with the municipality for the management of the Bergelen pit and its surroundings. This created the Bergelen Provincial Estate, which currently covers an area of 47 hectares. The Heulebeek stream flows along and through the estate, still following a largely natural course there. You'll also find the Bulskamphoeve, first mentioned in Gullegem in 1549. It's a historic farmstead whose horseshoe-shaped buildings are situated within the ramparts. The farmstead was destroyed several times during wartime and subsequently rebuilt or renovated. The current building is believed to date from 1775. A protected monument, the Meiboom, also stands in the area. This is a group of six lime trees with a large iron cross in the center. Source: wevelgem.be

An interesting anecdote concerns the battles around the pond during the war. Soldiers used the pond as a natural barrier and shelter. There are stories of soldiers wading through the water at night to reach enemy lines, which gave the pond strategic significance.

With the realisation of Bissegem Plage, Bissegem will gain an attractive and peaceful location. It will be a beautiful piece of nature of almost 10,000m² (1ha) that will be permanently free from construction. In this way, we will preserve the unique green character along the Leie. This will undoubtedly become one of the most beautiful parts of Bissegem. In this zone, we will set up a water buffer basin. We will collect all the rainwater from the Driekerkenstraat here. It concerns two buffer basins, one of which overflows into the other. They are a maximum of half a metre deep. The largest of the two will never be dry. A jetty (wooden terrace) will partly bridge this basin. Here, everyone can enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and the passage of large boats. We provide a connection with the cemetery. In a large part of the site, children can romp and play freely. This is also possible in the smallest buffer basin. (info City of Kortrijk)

Small park (only a little more than 1 hectare), remnant of a domain that was once five times as large. It is clearly very popular among fishermen. The Pond Park was part of the castle park owned by the Cotteau de Patin family. The castle now houses the town hall. Originally, the pond was located between the castle and St. Paul's Church in an area of more than 5 hectares. The pond itself was much larger than it is now and was appropriately shaped like a swan. The park was opened to the general public once a year and could already receive recreational visitors avant la lettre. When the Ypres-Oostende railway was constructed in the second half of the 19th century, the domain was split almost in half and the pond was given a new and definitive location between the castle and the station. This railway line 63 was opened around 1873 (and remained in use until 1955).

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At the beginning of the 14th century, Ypres was a very prosperous and densely populated city. Two ponds were constructed for water supply: one in Dikkebus and one in Zillebeke, and these ponds still provide Ypres with drinking water today. The 28-hectare Zillebeke Pond is fed by the Zillebeek stream. On the western bank lies the pumping and treatment plant, which produces approximately four to five thousand cubic meters of drinking water daily. The pond is surrounded by a beautiful double row of trees. Fishing is permitted with a special permit. The pond is a valuable natural feature. The large fields of water lilies are particularly picturesque. A colony of grebes breeds there, but grey herons, coots, moorhens, mallards, and sandpipers also call the pond home. During the migration season, the pond is frequently visited by numerous bird species. You can cycle and walk around the pond. Source: knooppunter.com/zillebekevijver

Old pond that supplies fresh water to the city of Ypres. Some explanation: The Dikkebus Pond is a pond near the village of Dikkebus, south of Ypres. On July 23, 1310, the City of Ypres received permission from the Count of Flanders to dig the pond, which, next to the Zillebeke Pond, was intended to ensure sufficient water in the city for fulling and dyeing cloth. The pond was created by damming the Kemmelbeek stream and was excavated on land belonging to the parishes of Vlamertinge, Dikkebus, and Voormezele. The expropriation of the necessary land was arranged by the city of Ypres and took about ten years. The thirty-six-hectare pond was not completed until around 1323. The pond supplied and still supplies Ypres with drinking water, initially via the Ypres canals and later via a system of oak pipes. Since 1926, this has been done via a modern pumping station. The Zillebeke Pond and Bellewaarde Pond were also created this way. Besides providing drinking water, the pond also serves a recreational purpose. Enjoy the shady banks at a moderate pace.

Old pond that supplies fresh water to the city of Ypres. Some explanation: The Dikkebusvijver is a pond near the village of Dikkebus, south of the city of Ypres. On July 23, 1310, the City of Ypres received permission from the Count of Flanders to dig the pond next to the Zillebeke pond to ensure that sufficient water was available in the city for fulling and dyeing sheets. The pond was created by damming the Kemmelbeek and was excavated on the grounds of the parishes of Vlamertinge, Dikkebus and Voormezele. The expropriation of the necessary land was arranged by the city of Ypres and took about ten years to complete. The pond of thirty-six hectares was not realized until around 1323. The pond provided and supplies Ypres with drinking water, formerly via the Ypres canals and then via a system of oak pipes. Since 1926 this has been done via a modern pumping station. The Zillebeke pond and Bellewaarde pond were also created in this way. In addition to the drinking water supply, the pond also has a recreational function. Enjoy the shaded banks at moderate speed.