Vosselare

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Vosselare is a submunicipality and parish of the community of Nevele.

The parish is first mentioned in 694 as Fursitio in the yearbook of the St-Peter Abbey of Ghent, and again in 802. Later on it is referred to as 'Voslariensis ecclesiae' (1087), Vurslar (1122), Vorselar (1125), Furselare (1130), Vurselaer (1140), Vorselaer (1147), Vursselare (1230, 1320, 1579), Vorslaer (1330), Vurselare (1364, 1500) and Vosselare for the first time in 1650 ^[1]. The name ‘Vosselaere’ is also used ^[2]. Although other explanations are given, the name Vosselare probably originates from 'Vurst' and 'Laar', meaning an open, empty space in a forest ^[1].

The heerlijkheid Vosselare is known from its lord 'Willelmus de Vurslar' or 'de Forselar' (1122, 1125)^[1], while his brother Balduinus de Furslare is mentioned in 1130^[1]. The family is also mentioned later as Heinric van Vurselare (1364) and Arnold van Vurselaer (1413)^[1] but the heerlijkheid has already previously passed to Thomas van den Turre, who is mentioned as participant in the Battle of the Golden Spurs^[1][2] in 1302.

Within Vosselare, also the castle of the important heerlijkheid of the 'Hof Ter Meeren' or 'Hof ter Mere' is situated, belonging to the lords ‘de Meere’ or ‘van der Meere(n)’ ^[2]. This heerlijkheid covered parts of many neighbouring communities^[1]. The casttle was destroyed during WWI, and was rebuild in 1923-1924 ^[3].

Also the heerlijkheid of the 'Goed ter Meersch' is located in Vosselare, of which a large farm with the same name is still remaining. It is supposed to have been a possession of the Knights Templar, going to the Van der Meersch family in 1314 ^[1]. The castle of the family located at the site of the current farm Goed ter Meersch was destroyed during the Battle of Nevele, 13 Mai 1381.

The village of Vosselare was sacked by the army of Charles de Valois in 1300. The village also suffered from the battle of Nevele on 13 Mai 1381 ^[2]. On 25 Mai 1452 there was again a battle near the village, between the city Ghent, under command of Jean Van Melle, and the count of Estampes^[2]. Geuzen have attacked the church and a farmhouse on 4 October 1575^[1][2]. The village was attacked by French troupes of Louis XIV in Mai 1673, October 1674, January 1675 and during the siege of Ghent in 1678^[2]. Six thousand French knights occupied the village and destroyed the harvest on 18 August 1684^[1]. The church was pillaged twice in 1688, and again in 1691 and 1696^[2][1]. Mortality also increased between 1676 and 1695 by an (unnamed) epidemic disease^[2].

The church is first mentioned in 1087 ^[1]. Van Hoorebeke argues that it was possibly (one of the) first churches in Flanders with a belltower^[2]. A new church building is supposed to be build by the Knights Templars at the end of their existence, resulting is a close connection between the church and the noble family Van der Meersch, who are supposed to descend from a Knight Templar^[1]. The church was largely destroyed in 1940 and was in 1953 rebuild by the architect Vaerwyck-Suys ^[4][3].

Previously there was a large lime tree named ‘Meerelinde’ at the crossroad leading to the Hof ter Mere castle, which was in 19th century referred too as one of the most impressive trees of Europe^[1][2]. It had a circumcision of 9,75 meter ^[2] or even more than 12 meter ^[1] at its base, and more than 30 people fitted in a cavity in the trunk ^[1][2].