The association for local history
"The Country of Nevele"

Inhabitants of the region of Nevele established “The Country of Nevele” in 1970. Several members of the first (executive) committee worked at the University of Ghent. The association is legally organized as a 'non-profit making organisation'. Its membership grew from one hundred in the beginning of the seventies to about four hundred at present. 

Its area of interest is Nevele and a group of surrounding villages: Vosselare, Poesele, Merendree, Hansbeke, Landegem, Meigem, Lotenhulle, Poeke, Zeveren, Vinkt, Bachte-Maria-Leerne en Sint-Martens-Leerne. For several ages, till the end of the eighteenth-century, this area was called "The Country of Nevele", a domain (district) of the county of Flanders. The seat of this domain with seigniorial rights was the castle of Ooidonk at Bachte-Maria-Leerne. Nowadays, the villages of the former Country of Nevele, belong to the territory of  the communes Nevele, Aalter and Deinze.   

The first activity of the association and in fact its present core business is the publishing of a tri-monthly periodical "The Country of Nevele" with all kinds of information about the region but focused on local history. In these publications,  a particular interest is given to the writer’s family (Cyriel) Buysse and (Virginie and Rosalie) Loveling. After the discovery of a Roman site in Merendree, archeology also receives a lot of attention.

There are also several other activities: historical excursions, lectures, various exhibitions in Nevele, participation in the exhibition of local history in Gent and Tielt and the second-hand book fair in Bachte, the publishing of thematic books and brochures. For a decade, since 1992, there has been a separate tri-monthly periodical focused on genealogy. 

The association has no political ties. The executive committee proposes names for new streets to the council of Nevele and takes care of local heritage, f.i. with the co-organization  of the 'national heritage day' in September. The Country of Nevele yearly receives a subsidy from the Ministry of Flanders. 

With the support of the commune Nevele, The Country of Nevele is developing an information centre in Hansbeke, providing a library and a database. This centre is open for the public every first Sunday of the month from 10 till 12 a.m.  The address is Hansbekedorp 33.  

For more information please mail to the following address: Jan.Luyssaert@belgacom.net