The Boeretang

The word 'Boeretang' is a combination of two old Frankish terms. 'Farmer' is a form of the medieval word 'buer' in the sense of house or barn. 'Tang' is related to 'tongue' in the sense of a sandy height in a swampy valley. Boeretang refers to a slightly higher house or barn in a soggy area. This walled farm has a rich history. The first traces of inhabitants around "the Boeretang" date from 1379. Until the 16th century there was only a battle mill.

The guardian of Dessel, Alexander Balthazar Roelants, is charged for a farm, which is first mentioned as 'Boeretang' in a document of 1681. The coat of arms of this gentleman now adorns the logo of 'the Boeretang'.

At the beginning of 1700, the inhabitants had problems with their debts to the Abbey of Tongerlo, which was obliged to repair the dilapidated buildings itself. After a long series of trials, 'de Boeretang' was sold publicly in 1763 to F.B. Beltens, rear admiral of Hoogstraten. He merges farm and mill into "a large tenant farm and fence"

In 1831, as a soldier of the Belgian army, Hendrik Conscience stayed for two months on 'the Boeretang'. The stories of Karel Minnen, popularly known as 'the great Minnen', inspire him to write 'Rikke-tikke-tak'. At the beginning of the 20th century, 'de Boeretang' was briefly owned by King Albert I. At the end of 1976, the site of 'de Boeretang' was protected as a landscape. The three farm buildings are protected as monuments 13 years later. In the autumn of 1989, the Van Gool family, with covered wagon and flat wagon, left 'de Boeretang' as the last tenant.

The restoration of the barn building and the redevelopment of the ramparts with the support of the King Baudouin Foundation have been completed since the autumn of 1993. The house and cart house were restored in 2000.

CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE

An atmospheric choice for special occasions

The former stable-barn building was completely restored in 1993 and converted into a party room. The huge roof trusses were completely restored to their original state. The room has a fully equipped, professional kitchen, a spacious cold room, neat sanitary installations and a large bar, with taps and refrigerators.

There are tables (round and elongated) and chairs for groups of 60 to 220 people, as well as matching white table linen. Next to the party room is a spacious parking for about 150 cars. The room is wheelchair accessible. When the weather is nice, it is pleasant to stay in the quiet, rural garden.

Eddy&Rita