Pittem

The village of Pittem, in the district of Tielt, is located in the heart of the province of West Flanders, about halfway between Bruges (24 km) and Kortrijk (18 km) on the North-South axis. To the east we find the city of Ghent at about 32 km; and the North Sea is also a stone's throw away, 40 km. All this can be reached quickly via the important and busy national roads that cross the municipality. The rural town of Pittem with 6,636 inhabitants and an area of 3,442 ha has two important residential areas, viz. Pittem and the merged municipality of Egem. The village scene in Pittem is dominated by the sturdy Romanesque tower of the Church of Our Lady (11th century), and in Egem by the pointed neo-Gothic tower of the St. Germanus Church (19th century). The well-known mission and teaching congregation 'Sisters of Mary van Pittem' was officially recognized and approved by Mgr. Boussen in 1848. In the course of the 12th to the 17th century, large farms were founded. The oldest mentioned are 'ter Claerhout' (1159) and 'ter Deurhout' (1360). Agriculture still occupies an important place today, but there is a noticeable shift towards horticulture and even towards fruit and flower cultivation. More than 800 workers find work in their own communities, mainly in the construction and textile industries.

Dirk Acx