The 'queen' buried under a footpath in Sint-Lievens-Houtem: the story of Marie Pollac

In the Belgian municipality of Sint-Lievens-Houtem, a local legend persists about the burial of a Roma queen, Marie Pollac, along with a treasure, beneath a footpath. This tale has circulated for decades, once even making front-page news, though the exact location of her grave had become obscure.

Radio 2 Oost-Vlaanderen, as part of its summer series on Belgian mysteries, has now reportedly found the site. The cemetery in Sint-Lievens-Houtem, like many in Flemish villages, is undergoing changes. A resident mentioned that by 2037, no graves will remain around the church as the area is designated for green space.

Local historian Geert Coppens, whose grandmother often recounted the story, explained that the legend stems from the early 1930s. During the town's annual market, a Roma queen was struck and killed by a car. The event caused a significant public gathering, unlike anything the village had seen before.

Journalist Herman Laneau, who researched the incident, noted that Marie Pollac was crossing the street nonchalantly when she was hit by one of the few cars of that era. The driver fled the scene and was never identified. According to Roma tradition, a queen is buried where she dies, making Sint-Lievens-Houtem her final resting place. Laneau suggests the event may have contributed to a more humane perception of the Roma community at the time, who carried a certain reputation.