Eeklo

Lore & Background

Eeklo's origins are obscure, with few traces of early habitation. It is presumed that oaks along a Roman road through marshes attracted travelers, and by 1240 a town had grown important enough to receive a civic charter from Jeanne of Constantinople. The marshes were drained for fortified farms, some remnants of which survive, and the town's economy relied on the cloth industry, with ties to Ghent and Bruges.

During the second half of the 16th century, Eeklo lay on the border between the Catholic south and Protestant north, leading to destruction that nearly emptied the town. Around this time, the legend of 'recooking' emerged: a rejuvenation recipe involving a youth elixir, cutting off one's head, and baking it, with a green cabbage symbolizing the empty head placed on the body while the head was in the oven.

The 18th and 19th centuries brought renewed prosperity and a revived textile industry, producing most of the town's schools and neo-Gothic buildings. Today, Eeklo is shifting from an industrial town to a service center for neighboring communities.

Reader's Guide

Eeklo's significance lies in its long history as a Flemish market town, its survival through religious conflict, and its UNESCO-recognized town hall and belfry (designated in 1999). The legend of 'recooking' is a distinctive piece of local folklore, reflecting the town's turbulent 16th-century experience. Economically, Eeklo evolved from a cloth-industry center to a modern service hub, while its notable inhabitants include multiple champion cyclists (Erik and Roger De Vlaeminck, among others) and Eurovision contestant Tom Dice. The municipality's twin cities span five European countries, indicating its international connections. Its main sights—including the Holy Burial Chapel, St Vincent Church, and the provincial park 'Het Leen' with its arboretum—attract visitors, and the Heldenpark offers recreational facilities. Eeklo's legacy is that of a resilient small city that adapted from medieval trade to contemporary services while preserving its architectural and folkloric heritage.

Did You Know?

• The name Eeklo comes from Old German words for 'oak' and 'sparse woods,' akin to English 'Oakley.'
• The town's belfry and town hall were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.
• The legend of 'recooking' involved cutting off one's head and baking it, with a cabbage placed on the body.
• Eeklo was nearly abandoned in the second half of the 16th century due to its border location between Catholic and Protestant areas.