Pillory of Oostkamp

The original pillory of the seigniory of Nieuwenhove is located in a private forest (purchased by the VLM in 2020). Can be seen in the distance from the public road that leads to the farm (from the fence diagonally opposite the avenue to Nieuwenhovebos).
Polygonal pillory with a lion at the top with the coat of arms of the Stappens-Veranneman family, lords of Nieuwenhove under the lion's foot (cf. Waterstraat nos. 29-31).

Old maps (Large Map of the Brugse Vrije by Pieter Pourbus ) and writings speak of the Waterstraat. At the extreme southern point of present-day Nieuwenhove, at the intersection of Waterstraat and Rivierbeek, on the northern bank was a high concentration of buildings and the law house of the seigniory of Roden-Nieuwenhove was located. There was a pillory next to the law house (waterstraat 42). It was probably founded in 1750 by squire Philippe de Stappens on the occasion of the solemn celebration at the law house of Nieuwenhove in honor of his entry as the new lord of Nieuwenhove, three years after the start of his lordship in 1747. We know from maps and archival research. that the bluestone pillory is not in the same place as the previous wooden pillory but some fifty meters further. This pillory was probably also moved to a private domain during the turbulent French times at the end of the 18th century.

The Roden-Nieuwenhove manor was situated between Waterstraat and Kortrijksestraat, between Wilgenbroeken and Steenbrugge, and was partly dependent on the Burg van Brugge and partly on Dendermonde. It was first a contributing (independent) seigniory and only later became an appendente seigniory of the Brugse Vrije. This glory possessed the higher justice.

On the town square of Oostkamp is a replica, unveiled in 1996 on the occasion of the Open Monument Day (next to St. Peter's Church and the town hall).

The VLM purchased the grove in 2020. It will be transferred to ANB to become part of the wider Kampveld domain forest. ANB will initially make the pillory more visible by removing the paplaurels along the Waterstraat. It will then be checked whether the pillory can be opened up to walkers.

Willem Vandenameele