Woesten
| Woesten | |
|---|---|
| Deelgemeente | |
| Woesten (Dutch) | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 50°54′N 2°47′E / 50.900°N 2.783°E | |
| Country | Belgium |
| Province |
 West Flanders |
| Municipality | Vleteren |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.27 km2 (2.42 sq mi) |
| Population (2005) | |
| • Total | 1,385 |
| • Density | 221/km2 (570/sq mi) |
| Source: NIS | |
| Postal code | 8640 |
| Area code | 057 |
| Website | www.vleteren.be |
Woesten is a rural Belgian village in the Vleteren municipality of West Flanders province. The town is close to the city of Ypres. The centre of the city is located on a road junction of the N8 between Ypres and Veurne and the Poperingestraat to Poperinge.
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History
The name Woesten origines from "Wastina", meaning "deserted sprawl". In the 12th century, the village was mentioned as "solitudo renyngensis", meaning the "deserted sprawl of Reninge". The name "Wastina" was first mentioned in the 13th century.
Landmarks
The parish and church are named after Saint-Rictrude. The Gothic church of Saint-Rictrude dates from the 15th century. The church was destroyed during World War I, but was rebuilt in 1922/23.
Until 1916, there was a brewery (built in 1850) where we nowadays find the marketplace. The brewery was in hands of the Seynhaeve-family, later the Florimond Van Neste-family and eventually the Decaestekere-family. During World War I, alongside with the church, the brewery was destroyed. The brewery was later rebuilt a couple hundred meters further. On the marketplace, there's still an old water pump that used to belong to the brewery.