Grace forests

The Gratiebossen is a forest in the Belgian municipalities of Berlare and Zele. It is located to the northeast of the marsh forest Berlarebroek, to the west of the ribbon development Kamershoek, and to the south of the Gentsesteenweg. Until the 18th century, it was a large and vast forest, from the Kouter in Zele to Overmere. Notable inhabitants of the Gratiebossen were the gang of Jan Praet, who were door-to-door salesmen by day and committed robberies at houses they had visited by night. They also robbed passersby in the forest. According to tradition, the name of the forest dates from this period; the robbers indeed robbed passersby without grace.

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