Through artifacts retrieved near Saint-Lucas hospital (and stored at Gruuthusemuseum in Bruges) we assume that the Leitje region was already inhabited in the Stone Age.
Aerial views of the Ver-Assebroekse meersen reveals an approximately 300 m-wide ring of ditches and rampart complex dating from the 5th century where the lords of Assebroek later built their castle.
Apparently around the 12th century, a lord called Boudewijn of Assebroek bought his domain – limited by Oostkamp, Oedelem, Michel van Hamme street, Astridlaan and Lorreinendreef - free from Sijsele.
The Assebroek municipality only consisted of some scattered maisonnettes and a mill along the old road to Bruges. Instigated by the lords of Assebroek, a local church and Engelendale convent were established.
Nowadays Assebroek includes 6 parishes: Immaculata (Ver-Assebroek), Assumpta, Saint Lutgardis, Saint Catharina, Saint Christopher, and Sacred Heart (Steenbrugge).
Etymology
Before the 20th Century, the town's name was recorded as Ars(e)brouc, later becoming Assebroek.
Ars(e)brouc probably meant wetland with horses. The medieval Dutch Arse or Ors being horses and brouc meaning marsh. In medieval times, the Meersen area was surrounded by several inns all bearing horsenames of which only the ruin of The Flying Horse in Oedelem is still standing. Some sources claim Arse stands for ashes so that Assebroek would mean marsh surrounded by ashes.
Geography
Assebroek is situated on a lower sand plain south west of Bruges. Forming a typical polder landscape, in winter an area called Assebroekse Meersen, characterised by small grass fields separated by willow trees often gets flooded.
The Meersen area arose as prolongation within the so-called Flemish Valley. The slope contains sand, lime and peat deposits from the Holocene Epoch. Underneath the peat remains an approx. 30 cm marsh lime layer from the early Holocene. 10,000 years ago, this region was a real marsh.
Evolution of the number of inhabitants
19th century
Census results of December 31
Year
1806
1816
1830
1846
1856
1866
1876
1880
1890
Number of inhabitants
543
614
845
1,186
1,171
1,259
1,493
1,599
1,915
20th century till rearrangement of municipalities
Census results of December 31
Year
1900
1910
1920
1930
1947
1961
1970
Number of inhabitants
2,733
4,705
5,456
6,936
11,337
14,422
15,572
Attractions
Local church of Ver-Assebroek with organ (Pastoor Verhaegheplein)
Reserve 4.2 km2 "Assebroekse Meersen" with concentric rings (Kerkdreef)
19th century village centre (Generaal Lemanlaan)
Cemetery of Bruges – a.o. tomb of Guido Gezelle (Kerkhofblommenstraat)
Bergjesbos (Olmendreef)
Former inn "The Lily" (Weidestraat)
Children's farm "The Seven Towers" (Canadaring) (NL = Zeven Torentjes)
Each year thousands of pilgrims honour the miraculous figurine of The Madonna at Ver-Assebroek and pray with the Benedictine monks of Steenbrugge. According to the legend (represented by the stained-glass windows in the church) this marble figurine floated when the Geuzen threw it into the sea.
Assebroek beer community
In medieval times, the inner city of Bruges imposed significant taxes on beer consumption. Hence so called outside drinkers found their way to Assebroek's inns till the early morning when Bruges’ city gates were opened.
Many beers are named after this place (Steenbrugge Blonde, Steenbrugge Double Brown, Steenbrugge Triple and Steenbrugge White) or were locally brewed by the Regenboog Brewery (now moved to Mater).
Gallery
O.-L.-V.-Onbevlekt- Ontvangenkerk
O.-L.-V.-ten-Hemel- Opgenomenkerk
Sint-Jozef en Sint-Christoffelkerk
Sint-Katharinakerk
Assebroekse Meersen with in the background the church of Ver-Assebroek
