Zoutenaaie: Church History and Polder Landscape

Zoutenaaie brings together the history of a vanished church site and the polder area of Lampernisse and its surroundings. When planning a trip, these themes should be considered at different scales: the archaeological findings relate to the former church site, while the landscape features concern the wider polder area. Church history and the Oudland Polders thus offer two clearly distinct ways to explore the destination.

Archaeology at the Former Church Site

The site of the vanished church contributes to the special archaeological significance of the archaeological zones. According to the Veurne historian Pauwel Heindrycx, Zoutenaaie became an independent parish around 1204 under the patronage of Sint-Bertijns Abbey in Sint-Omaars. The commemorative plaque on the memorial wall records the church’s foundation in 1209, its rebuilding in 1608, and its excavation in 1960. The plaque gives 1824 as the year of demolition; 1829 is a differing date, while according to Heindrycx the parish had already become independent around 1204.

The former cemetery lay on a trapezoidal mound that rose about 80 centimetres above the surrounding meadows and was enclosed by a ditch. Three brick-built burial chambers were discovered inside the former church building. In the third, vaulted chamber, three red Jerusalem crosses were painted on the long walls. A yellow-brick memorial wall marks the former site of the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk van Zoutenaaie and has three round-arched openings. A round arch has a curved upper edge. The mound and ditch describe the shape of the former cemetery, while the chambers provide evidence of actual built burial places within the church building.

Polder Landscape and Protection

The Oudland Polders near Zoutenaaie, Lampernisse and Alveringem are protected as a landscape. The polder area of Lampernisse and its surroundings, which also includes Zoutenaaie, comprises polders used since the Middle Ages as well as grasslands with varied relief. The same wider area contains traces of peat extraction and panoramic views with far-reaching vistas. Relief and distant views describe different aspects of the landscape: its varied terrain and the broad vistas across the area. The archaeological findings, by contrast, relate to the church site, while the protected status and polder features concern the wider landscape.

Road and Cycling Orientation

The Zoutenaaiestraat, with its southern branch, formerly called Oude Zeedijkstraat, follows the Oude Zeedijk, which dates from the 11th century, from Oostduinkerke via Wulpen, Avekapelle and Zoutenaaie to the IJzer. It is the only road through the vast landscape.

Since 2020, the Michel-Pollentier cycling route has also had a shorter, signposted 33 km variant. Both variants are marked with red signs showing the route name and distance in kilometres. Check the markings on site when planning your cycling route. The road description places Zoutenaaie within a broad route, while the 33 km cycling variant provides a specific distance to help you choose a ride.

Discover more destinations: Vinkem

See the main travel overview: Veurne.