Rozebroeken

The Rozebroeken have remained an open space until today. However, this was not always taken for granted as the Rozebroeken was the subject of various conflicts throughout the twentieth century.

Due to its water-rich character, the area largely escaped the frenzy of development. The marshy lands made the area unsuitable for construction. But in 1930, the municipal authorities of Sint Amandsberg decided that a landfill would be created in the area. The ever-expanding dump, however, caused unbearable stink and nuisance for the local residents. The worst symptoms were fought by spraying the waste with hydrochloric acid and covering it with a layer of dirt.

The remaining territory of the Rozebroeken - owned by the d’Anvers family - was leased starting in 1932 to the association ‘Het Werk Van den Akker’. Dozens of community gardens were established on the site. Initially, they were located next to the dump, but vegetables were also grown on the covered polluted lands. The community gardens played an important economic, social, and ecological role in the metropolis. The cultivation of crops was subject to collective provisions and regulations. In 1961, the activity in the community gardens reached a peak: 605 people were members of ‘Het Werk van den Akker’ and worked on more than 200 plots. The municipal landfill was closed in the early 1970s.

In 1985, rumors emerged that the d’Anvers family wanted to subdivide the land. However, the municipal authorities assured local residents multiple times between 1985 and 1988 that the community gardens would absolutely remain; “the gardeners can sleep soundly regarding the future of the community gardens.” For a moment, there was talk that the city of Ghent would purchase these lands, but soil research revealed that the land was too polluted to host community gardens. The uncertainty between owners and users led to resentment. In 1989, the community gardens left the Rozebroeken and were forced to move to Slotenkouter.

In 1999, tensions arose again over this area. The underlying reason was the prospect of constructing scout houses. A number of action groups and local residents united against the construction plans under the name S.O.S Rozebroeken. The Rozebroeken have remained a pleasant green spot in the outskirts of Ghent until today.

Ishka DS