Chapel of Our Lady of Help

The chapel was established in this place in 1664, after a statue of Mary was found in a tree along the Esenweg at the beginning of that century (according to another author in 1570). The legend tells that despite desperate attempts to place the statue in the St. Peter's Church, the statue was found again in the tree. During the French Revolution, the chapel was sold to a private owner. In 1863, the church factory reacquired the chapel.

The chapel played an important role during World War I: prior to the 'Battle of Diksmuide' (October 16 to November 10), Admiral Ronarc’h set up his command post in the chapel "Our Lady of Help" on October 15. The naval fusiliers dug trenches around the chapel. However, Ronarc’h already withdrew the next day in the face of advancing German troops. On October 19, Belgian Major General Scheere, commander of the 5th Army Division, established his headquarters in the chapel (also for one day) and issued orders for a Franco-Belgian counteroffensive from there. A 75 mm cannon was placed at the chapel to fire rapidly at the advancing Germans from Vladslo. After capturing the area, the Germans installed four heavy cannons and three machine guns at the chapel on October 23. After the destruction of the chapel, it was historically rebuilt between 1924 and 1925 according to the design by architect Thierry Nolf (Torhout).

Single-nave rebuilding chapel of four bays (slate gable roof with belfry, eaves on brackets) and three-sided choir closure. Adjacent to the south is a sacristy. Simple brick architecture with arched wall openings in a profiled frame with drip list (armored windows). The northern facade is blind except for one window. The main change compared to the pre-war chapel concerns the street facade, which is placed at an angle to the street: the stepped facade is replaced by a crenellated facade line with volutes of white stone. The basket arch niche of the portal is repeated, the three image niches are repeated narrower and apparently no longer filled with statues. Stone with inscription: "O.L.VROUW TER HULPE B.V.O.".

Simple white plastered interior with wooden barrel vault with ribs and tie rods. Wooden wainscoting with geometric motifs and closing gate. Painting as a triptych referring to the history of the chapel and perhaps also to World War I, inscription "O.L.VROUW TER HULPE B.V.O.". Above the portal, upholstered statue of Our Lady in a wooden niche. Careful surroundings of the chapel with a brick drip path, hedge, and iron gate with geometric motifs.

Inventory of Relics from World War I in the Westhoek (Province of West Flanders, "War and Peace in the Westhoek", and the Ministry of the Flemish Community, Department of Monuments and Landscapes).

Royal Institute for the Artistic Heritage, Photo Library, and website.

S.N. n.d.: Where one goes along Diksmuide roads, one comes across a small chapel, s.l.

ERVINCK L., DEBAEKE S. 1996: The Drama of Esen, Koksijde, 18, 119.

VANDENBERGHE H. 1988: 400 years of devotion to Our Lady of Help in Esen, Den Dyzere, 7.

VLAEMYNCK J. n.d.: Esen, History of our village, s.l., 17-19.

Source: MISSIAEN H. & VANNESTE P. with the collaboration of GHERARDTS F. & SCHEIR O. 2005: Inventory of the architectural heritage, Province of West Flanders, Municipality of Diksmuide, Part I: Sub-municipalities Diksmuide, Beerst, Esen, Kaaskerke, Keiem, and Lampernisse, Part II: Sub-municipalities Leke, Nieuwkapelle, Oostkerke, Oudekapelle, Pervijze, St. Jacobskappel, Stuivekenskerke, Vladslo, and Woumen, Building through the centuries in Flanders WVL18, unpublished working documents.
Authors: Missiaen, Halewijn, Vanneste, Pol
Date: 2005

Joris Broché