Through the IJzerpolders

Appointment at the Sint-Bavokerk of Merkem (V), borough of Houthulst. The name refers to the former boundary function (Mark or Mark = 'border' and hem = 'settlement'). Merkem used to be located on the southern border of VeurneAmbacht. It was already mentioned in the 9th century, but the village was completely destroyed during the First World War except for a single farm and had to be completely rebuilt. The region was the scene of heavy fighting during the Great War, which combined here on 17 April 1918 in 'The Battle of Merkem'. The destroyed late Gothic St. Bavo church was replaced in 1925 by a three-aisled hall church with a west tower.

Walk from the church to the right and after 150 m to the right again. On the right you see the castle of Merkem 1, rebuilt after the war in Flemish Renaissance style. The asphalt road will soon become a wide field road and takes you to the Martjevaart after 500 m. Turn left and after 50 m to the right via a bridge over the canal and then straight on a narrow tiled path next to a narrow drainage ditch with accompanying beautiful pollard willow row. During a wet autumn or winter, this path can be under water! The only alternative is to start the walk in the opposite direction and turn along via the Westpoezelstraat to the Oostpoeselstraat. The landscape is pleasantly open and quiet. The tile path curves perpendicularly to the left and then to the right. On the asphalt road, turn left. Walk straight ahead in the Oostpoeselstraat and after just over 1 km, straight over house number 12 to the right, also the Oostpoeselstraat. The big peasants alternate. At the T-junction, turn left into Westpoezelstraat. The church on the left in front of you is that of Bikschote, a borough of Langemark-Poelkapelle. The Westpoezelstraat becomes Van Raemdonckstraat. At the fork you leave the concrete road and turn right on the narrower asphalt road, still the Van Raemdonckstraat. On the stone road to the right and immediately right again (sign monument Gebr. Van Raemdonck ). After 150 m you are on the Ypres-Yser canal. Turn right on the towpath. The canal runs roughly parallel to the Ieperlee, already in the Middle Ages an important trade route between Ypres and Nieuwpoort and Bruges. The canal was dug between 1636 and 1643. After 800 m you will see on the right the monument to the Van Raemdonck 2 brothers, from Temse and a symbol of brotherly love in Flanders. Edward and Frans were both sergeants during WWI and were killed in the night of 25 to 26 March 1917, together with the Walloon corporal Aimé Fievez, after a night attack on the Stampkot in Steenstrate. Their heroic brotherly love to death became a symbol of the Flemish Movement. The monument is built with concrete blocks from the Stampkot. The brothers are buried in the Yser Tower. Continue walking on the quiet towpath, bordered on the right with a beautiful ribbon of ash and on the left the bank alternating with reed collars and pollard willows with their foot in the water. Blue heron and cormorant come to look for food on the canal and grebe and small karekite breed in the reed collars. In winter, geese and ducks forage in the meadows and even curlews. After more than 3 km, ignore the Westpoezelstraat and after another 700 m step over the Martjevaart and continue along the Ieper-IJzerkanaal towards Drie Grachtenbrug. Walk on the left at the bridge on the towpath under the bridge to the Iseraboot 3, a barge converted into a visitor center. In the hold of the boat, an exhibition tells the story of the Yser from source to mouth. You can also go there for a refreshment. After a possible visit to the boat, return to the Martjevaart and now turn left on the paved field road along the Martjevaart. After 1.5 km you will arrive at a red and white barrier. Go back to the left, towards the church of Merkem.