Hamlet Fintele

At the confluence of the Lovaart and the IJzer lies the hamlet of Fintele. Already in the 13th century, a windlass is mentioned that connected the Lovaart with the IJzer and helped transport boats over a dam from one river to the other. The name Fintele may be a distortion of the 13th-century name Wind-ele and refer to the place (=ele) where the windlass (= winde) was located. That "winde" consisted of two large wheels on a thick axle and was positioned on the IJzer bank at the mouth of the Lovaart. Planks were attached to the wheels that the women of Fintele walked on to turn the wheels. The ship, which was connected to the wheels by ropes, then slid along a channel smeared with grease. The vessels that were transferred in this way had a carrying capacity of 12 to 15 tons and a draft of only 50 cm. As noted on the commemorative stone at the bridge, the first stone laying of the current sassen complex dates back to 1827. The construction was commissioned by William I of the Netherlands.

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