Belgian Area Saved From Development, Designated Permanent Farmland

The Reesinghe area in Maldegem, Belgium, will remain permanently agricultural land, thwarting plans for a large housing development and securing its future as a vital green space. This outcome marks a significant victory for the "Red Reesinghe" action committee, which has campaigned for years to protect the area from development.

Originally zoned as a residential expansion area, Reesinghe was targeted by a developer planning to build 33 single-family homes and 104 apartments. Upon learning of these plans in 2021, local residents quickly formed the action committee. Their efforts culminated in the submission of 3,500 objections within two weeks and a successful citizen's amendment proposal to the municipal council, which voted to rezone the area for agricultural use.

“

It is a long process, but from the beginning, we felt a lot of support.

Although an appeal was lodged against this decision, the Council of State has now definitively ruled that Reesinghe will remain agricultural zone. Robin van Kerschaver, a municipal councilor for CD&V and a member of the committee, described the process as long but noted the consistent support they felt from the beginning.

The residents consider Reesinghe a precious area, historically significant as the birthplace of Maldegem, with its castle, unique landscapes of woods, avenues, and farmland. The committee also paid tribute to its late spokesperson, Daniël Deyne, who passed away last year. As a final wish, Deyne had asked for a bench to be placed in Reesinghe in his honor, an act that was fulfilled with over 100 people attending the unveiling. Students from the atheneum where Deyne worked crafted the bench, symbolizing a lasting connection between the community and its protected environment.

“

Reesinghe is actually at the foundation of the municipality of Maldegem. Think of the castle of Reesinghe, Maldegem was born from it. It is a unique landscape with woods, avenues, and agriculture.