Vrasene
Village
Street view with Holy Cross Church
Street view with Holy Cross Church
Vrasene is located in Belgium
Vrasene
Vrasene
Location in Belgium
Coordinates: 51°13′09″N 4°11′41″E / 51.2192°N 4.1947°E / 51.2192; 4.1947
Country Belgium
RegionFlemish Region
ProvinceEast Flanders
MunicipalityBeveren
Area
[1]
 • Total14.10 km2 (5.44 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total4,227
 • Density300/km2 (780/sq mi)
Time zoneCET

Vrasene is a village in the municipality of Beveren in the Belgian province of East Flanders. It is located about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) west of Antwerp.[2]

History

Vrasene is located on a hill which is a remnant of an old dune stretching from Stekene to Zwijndrecht. The area around Vrasene was never a noble possession or a fief. The name probably means "settlement on the (former river) Verre". In 1136, the monastery of Salegem was founded in Vrasene and the monks started to cultivate the land. A church has been known to exist in Vrasene since 1183. In 1624, the monastery was destroyed during the religious wars. During the 18th century, Vrasene was a centre of clog production.[3][4]

In 1845, the village of Meerdonk separated from Vrasene and formed its own municipality.[3] During World War I, the polders around the village were inundated to halt the German progress. During the occupation, the village was part of the so-called Etappegebiet, a military area where 188 bunkers were constructed to guard against a British invasion or Dutch attack. In September 1918, the entire male population was held hostage in the church after a local police officer who allegedly collaborated with the Germans was murdered.[5]

Vrasene was an independent municipality until 1977 when it was merged with Beveren as part of the fusion of municipalities in Belgium.[6]

Buildings

The Holy Cross church was first mentioned in 1183. In 1448, the church was redesigned into a three aisled Gothic church. The square tower was added between 1450 and 1455. The church was extended in 1877, and declared a monument in 1942.[4][7]

Notable people

References

  1. 1 2 "Bevolking per statistische sector - Sector 46003B". Statistics Belgium. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  2. ↑ "Distance Vrasene, Beveren, BEL -> Antwerpen, BEL". Distance.to. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Vrasene". Agentschap Onroerend Erfgoed (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Vrasene". Waasland (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  5. ↑ "Vrasene". Beverenbezet (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  6. ↑ "Beveren". Agentschap Onroerend Erfgoed (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  7. ↑ "Parochiekerk Heilig Kruis met kerkhof". Agentschap Onroerend Erfgoed (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  8. ↑ "Ruben Apers". Pro Cycling Stats. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  9. ↑ "Laura Waem: 'Een leuk tussendoortje'". Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 May 2022.
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