Pollinkhove: Discover hiking and heritage

Pollinkhove lies at the transition from the polder to a plateau. Hiking and local history are two clear themes to consider when planning a trip: the trails differ in landscape, route and published length, while mills, De Fintele and memorial sites offer glimpses of the past. If you are looking for a hotel in Pollinkhove, these highlights can help you choose a destination that suits your interests.

Hiking trails and landscape

The Beverdijk walking route starts at the Church of St. Bartholomew in Pollinkhove. It remains part of the IJzervallei walking network map as a suggested circular route and continues to be signposted. The Zavelpad focuses on the landscape: this walking trail leads through the polders and the sandy loam region around Pollinkhove. The Fintelepad passes historic sites such as the Machuutmolen.

The Westhoek Trail Roesbrugge–Pollinkhove runs through the flooded IJzer Valley and is 12 to 17.5 kilometres long. Its route includes towpaths, quiet roads and unpaved paths. A dial-a-bus takes participants to Roesbrugge; from there, the return route to Pollinkhove follows the IJzer. The dial-a-bus must be booked at least two hours in advance. The trails can therefore be distinguished by different features: their starting point and circular route, their landscape, historic stops, or their length and types of path.

De Fintele and the water landscape

The hamlet of De Fintele lies in Pollinkhove at the confluence of the Lovaart and the IJzer and is protected as a village view. The hamlet’s origins are linked to a crossing point, or winch, that had existed there since around 1100. The foundation stone for the present lock complex was laid in 1827. These landmarks give De Fintele a distinctive connection between water engineering and local history.

From Fintele onwards, dikes and rows of trees on both sides shape the landscape along the Lovaart. Reeds and low shrubs grow along the banks. Pollinkhove, by contrast, is defined by the transition between the polder and the plateau. When choosing a walk by landscape, the Zavelpad offers a connection to the polders and sandy loam region, while the Westhoek Trail runs through the flooded IJzer Valley.

Mills, buildings and remembrance

The Markeymolen is a protected monument. Millwright Jan Frans Verhaeghe built it in 1797. The Margriet or Machuutmolen is a stone windmill of the ground-sail type and was used as a grain mill. Around 1870, Arsène Couzyn built the Margrietmolen to replace the Hullebrugmolen, located 400 metres to the east. The information about the construction date, function and predecessor illustrates different aspects of the history of the mills, without reducing the buildings to the same period or purpose.

The Elzendamme Bridge in Pollinkhove crosses an old branch of the IJzer. The Tempeliershoeve in Pollinkhove includes a walled upper courtyard, with access to the building via a double-arched bridge and gateway. Both structures illustrate how routes and architectural forms are reflected in local history.

The monument at the Machuut redoubt, erected on 25 April 1999, commemorates twelve residents of Pollinkhove who fell on 25 April 1794 while fighting the French invaders. On 13 January 1943, a B-17 bomber crashed in the Groene Boomgaard area of Pollinkhove. The B17 Pollinkhove monument includes a memorial stone bearing the names of ten soldiers. These memorial sites tell different stories; their respective dates make the historical connections concrete.

Discover more destinations: Noordschote

For the broader travel overview: Lo-Reninge.