Waardamme: Village Centre, Church and Trails

When looking for a hotel in Waardamme, two distinct points of reference are available: the historic village centre and trails through stream and woodland landscapes. Which of these aspects will shape your stay more depends on your travel interests; the following places and features make the comparison concrete.

Cultural History in the Village Centre

The Dorpsplein is part of a well-preserved village centre. Its present layout, with the nearby parish church of Sint-Blasius, the partially preserved cemetery and the former parsonage, dates back to the 18th-century setting. The village landscape therefore brings together buildings and structures that show the historic character of the village centre from different perspectives.

The Church of Sint-Blasius is an oriented cruciform church in the Classicist style; its construction phases date from the second half of the 18th century and from the 19th century. The church grounds contain a preserved Way of the Cross in honour of Saint Blaise, with two stations. A late Gothic Calvary image from the 16th century can also be seen on the west façade of the north transept. The church’s use as a hospital marks another historical layer: during the First World War, it served this purpose from November 1917 to May 1918.

The former parsonage also offers a close look at historic building forms: the detached semi-detached house has five bays and two storeys beneath a hipped roof covered with black tiles. Kasteel Doeveren, northwest of Waardamme, also dates back to the 18th century. Together with the church, these buildings offer different points of interest if you are interested in the architecture and history of the area.

Streams, Woodland and Trails

Waardamme has a gently rolling landscape. Elevations range from about 10 metres above sea level in the Waardammebeek valley to about 17 metres in the west and east, towards Veldhoek and Kampveld respectively. Near Sijslostraat, close to the village centre, the Velddambeek was restored to a meandering course in the stream valley. The landscape therefore includes both the valley area and the higher ground towards the areas mentioned.

The 294-hectare Kampveld estate woodland consists of four sections: Rooiveld, Kampveld, Papenvijvers and Nieuwenhove. Woodlands, grasslands and marshes alternate there, and two naturally meandering streams cross the area. This mix of landscape features offers a different perspective on Kampveld from the smaller-scale local history around the church and Dorpsplein.

Walking Through Doeveren

You are free to walk on the paths in Doeveren. The signposted Doeveren walking route crosses the Kerkebeek to Doeveren and runs through the Merkemveldbos. From the centre of Waardamme, a connecting path also follows the stream to a large play forest. For planning purposes, you can consider a walking route through the woodland and Doeveren area, and a path from the centre to a play forest, as distinct points of reference.

Cycling and Rental Bikes

Sijslostraat is on the regional functional cycling network. Five rental bikes are available in Waardamme at the covered bicycle parking facility on Rooveldplein. Check whether the bikes are available before you travel. When choosing a destination, you can therefore take the cycling routes and bike-rental options into account alongside the historic sights and walking trails.

If you are mainly interested in exploring church architecture and the historic village centre, Sint-Blasius and the ensemble around Dorpsplein offer specific destinations. If walks through woodland and stream landscapes are more of a priority, Doeveren, Merkemveldbos and Kampveld provide different themes for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Hertsberge, Ruddervoorde.

View the overview of destinations: Oostkamp.