De Meetkerkse moeren: a unique nature reserve in West Flanders
De Meetkerkse Moeren is a beautiful nature reserve located in the province of West Flanders, near the Belgian coast. This low-lying wetland, which covers an area of approximately 300 hectares, is one of the best-preserved examples of a peat bog in Belgium. The area lies between the villages of Meetkerke, Houtave and Zuienkerke, and owes its name to the nearby village of Meetkerke.
History
The Meetkerkse Moeren were created in the Middle Ages by peat extraction. The peat was used as fuel, but the exploitation led to the land shrinking and falling below sea level. This made the area difficult to edit and caused it to slowly transform into a swampy landscape. In the centuries that followed, the area was mainly used for extensive agriculture and animal husbandry.
