# Zonnebeke > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Zonnebeke > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Zonnebeke.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zonnebeke > Source revision: 1333814525 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) For the painting by William Orpen, see [Zonnebeke (painting)](/source/Zonnebeke_(painting)). Municipality in Flemish Community, Belgium Zonnebeke Municipality Zonnebeke town hall Flag Coat of arms Location of Zonnebeke in West Flanders Interactive map of Zonnebeke Zonnebeke Location in Belgium Coordinates: 50°52′N 02°59′E / 50.867°N 2.983°E / 50.867; 2.983 Country Belgium Community Flemish Community Region Flemish Region Province West Flanders Arrondissement Ypres Government • Mayor Dirk Sioen (INSPRAAK) • Governing parties INSPRAAK, CD&V Area • Total 68.09 km2 (26.29 sq mi) Population (2018-01-01)[1] • Total 12,445 • Density 182.8/km2 (473.4/sq mi) Postal codes 8980 NIS code 33037 Area codes 051/057 Website www.zonnebeke.be **Zonnebeke** (Dutch pronunciation: [\[ˈzɔnəˌbeːkə\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Dutch); [West Flemish](/source/West_Flemish_language): *Zunnebeke*) is a [municipality](/source/Municipalities_of_Belgium) located in the [Belgian](/source/Belgium) [province](/source/Provinces_of_Belgium) of [West Flanders](/source/West_Flanders). The municipality comprises the villages of [Beselare](/source/Beselare) [[nl](https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beselare)], [Gheluvelt](/source/Gheluvelt) [[nl](https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geluveld)], [Passendale](/source/Passendale), [Zandvoorde](/source/Zandvoorde_(Zonnebeke)) and Zonnebeke proper. On January 1, 2006, Zonnebeke had a total population of 11,758. The total area is 67.57 km2 which gives a [population density](/source/Population_density) of 174 inhabitants per km2. ## History Destruction of Zonnebeke, 1918 The villages of Zonnebeke congregated around a large [Augustinian](/source/Augustinians) [abbey](/source/Abbey) and its associated [Benedictine](/source/Benedictine) [convent](/source/Convent) in [Nonnebosschen](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nonnebosschen&action=edit&redlink=1). Both were destroyed during the iconoclastic outbreak in 1580. Only the abbey was rebuilt, but was looted during the [French](/source/France) occupation the abbey was confiscated. Passendale played a role in the [Battle of Westrozebeke](/source/Battle_of_Westrozebeke) in 1382. Situated in the centre of the [Ypres Salient](/source/Ypres_Salient), [World War I](/source/World_War_I) destroyed the whole area. Left abandoned until the early 1920s, people slowly returned and rebuilt the villages. In 1932, the locals opened a cheese making facility, which to this day is the only source of [Passendale cheese](/source/Passendale_cheese).[2] Another battle during [World War II](/source/World_War_II) during the Allied advance across Europe, where Passendale was used in a defensive operations by the [Nazis](/source/Nazi), did little damage. Today, Zonnebeke has returned to its long-time balance between [agriculture](/source/Agriculture), small business and work in the neighbouring towns. Its major industry is the [brickworks](/source/Brickworks) in the village of Zonnebeke itself, which extracts the local blue clay. ## Zonnebeke underground *Zonnebeke Church Dugout* constructed by [171st Tunnelling Company](/source/171st_Tunnelling_Company) in 1918 (model) The village and district of Zonnebeke and its five villages have the largest concentration of underground constructions from World War I, being located at the centre of the [Third Battle of Ypres](/source/Third_Battle_of_Ypres)/[Battle of Passchendaele](/source/Battle_of_Passchendaele). The blue-clay is now being extracted for commercial purposes by the Terca Zonnebeke N.V. [brickworks](/source/Brickworks) [factory](/source/Factory), meaning that the structures are now regularly found as the brickworks expands its commercial extraction activities.[3] About 180 dugout sites have been located in the [Ypres Salient](/source/Ypres_Salient) and in the 1990s some of them were entered, at least in part.[4] In 1983, the [Australian](/source/Australia)-built [Bremen Redoubt](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bremen_Redoubt&action=edit&redlink=1) was discovered at the rear of the Zonnebeke brickworks. Opened to the public until 1998, it is believed that its eventual collapse was due to drying support timbers.[5] During archaeological excavations of the Augustinian abbey, another dugout was discovered under Zonnebeke church. Today the outline of this dugout is marked in an archaeological garden within the church grounds, and a model of the church dugout can be seen at the "[Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917](/source/Memorial_Museum_Passchendaele_1917)" in Zonnebeke.[6] On February 21, 1998, a farmer's wife disappeared into the ground while washing the windows. [Beecham dugout](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Beecham_dugout&action=edit&redlink=1) was subsequently discovered less than 400 metres (1,300 ft) from [Tyne Cot Cemetery](/source/Tyne_Cot_Cemetery).[3] It was made public in spring 2006 that the brickworks had received a licence for the extension of its blue-clay extraction zone. The [Association for Battlefield Archaeology and Conservation](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Association_for_Battlefield_Archaeology_and_Conservation&action=edit&redlink=1), using maps compiled of 350 underground structures under the management of Belgian archaeologist Johan Vandewalle and British TV producer Peter Barton, showed that at least one structure was near to the proposed development zone, believed to be the [Vampire dugout](/source/Vampire_dugout),[7] which had been rediscovered in 2007. Following discussion with local preservation, historic, council and state officials, the ABAC was allowed to start a scientific research project. They engaged the Centre for Battlefield Archaeology at [Glasgow University](/source/Glasgow_University) to provide archaeological support (in light of the residence of the Highland Light Infantry).[7] ## Towns The municipality comprises the villages of Zonnebeke proper, [Beselare](/source/Beselare) [[nl](https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beselare)], [Gheluvelt](/source/Gheluvelt) [[nl](https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geluveld)], [Passendale](/source/Passendale) and [Zandvoorde](/source/Zandvoorde_(Zonnebeke)). All are "[deelgemeentes](/source/Deelgemeente)", meaning they were independent municipalities before the merger in the 1970s. # Name Area (km2) Population (01/01/2014) I Zonnebeke 16,55 4.472 II Beselare [nl] 14,33 2.684 III Gheluvelt [nl] 7,79 1.553 IV Passendale 22,22 3.152 V Zandvoorde 6,68 521 [8] Zonnebeke, towns and neighbouring town. The yellow areas are urban areas. The municipality of Zonnebeke borders the following towns and municipalities: a. Moorslede (municipality Moorslede) with village Slypskapelle [nl] b. Dadizele [nl] (municipality Moorslede) c. Geluwe (municipality Wervik) d. Wervik (municipality Wervik) with village Kruiseke [nl] e. Comines (Belgium) [nl] (municipality Comines-Warneton) with village Ten Brielen [nl] f. Houthem [nl] (municipality Comines-Warneton) g. Hollebeke (municipality Ypres) h. Zillebeke (municipality Ypres) i. Ypres (Ieper) (municipality Ypres) j. Langemark (municipality Langemark-Poelkapelle) k. Poelkapelle (municipality Langemark-Poelkapelle) l. Westrozebeke (municipality Staden) m. Oostnieuwkerke (municipality Staden) n. Roeselare (municipality Roeselare) ## See also - [Charles Holden](/source/Charles_Holden) - [Marquess of Becelaere](/source/Marquess_of_Becelaere) ## Gallery - The [Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917](/source/Memorial_Museum_Passchendaele_1917) - Memorial Museum Passchendaele, 1917 interior - Memorial in the [Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke](/source/Polygon_Wood%2C_Zonnebeke) - *Zonnebeke* (1918), painting by [William Orpen](/source/William_Orpen), showing devastation after World War I ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-wikidata-692aaaa06af07b61bd00fe674742d7f0e429826b-v20_1-0)** ["Wettelijke Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2018"](https://statbel.fgov.be/sites/default/files/files/documents/bevolking/5.1%20Structuur%20van%20de%20bevolking/Wettelijke_bevolking_per_gemeente_2011_2017.xls). Statbel. Retrieved 9 March 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Deoudekaasmakerij.be](http://www.deoudekaasmakerij.be) 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-GreatWMusPass_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-GreatWMusPass_3-1) ["Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917"](http://www.greatwar.co.uk/ypres-salient/museum-passchendaele-1917.htm). GreatWar.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-06-22. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-mausershooters_4-0)** [Activities of The Diggers - Restoration of the Yorkshire Trench & Dug-out](http://www.mausershooters.org/diggers/E/activiteiten/yorkshire-trench/restauratie.htm), access date 10 July 2015 1. **[^](#cite_ref-FlandBremen_5-0)** ["Bremen Redoubt"](http://www.flanderland.de/locations-orte/bremen-redoubt-%28zonnebeke%29/). flanderland.de. Retrieved 2010-06-22. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [*Zonnebeke Church Dugout wordt niet toegankelijk voor publiek*, 04/11/2010](http://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/6131ot2n), access date 9 July 2015 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-PGWood_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-PGWood_7-1) ["Vampire Dugout"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120308111159/http://www.polygonwood.com/Vampire%20Dugout/Vampir%20Dugout%20Zonnebeke.pdf) (PDF). polygonwood.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.polygonwood.com/Vampire%20Dugout/Vampir%20Dugout%20Zonnebeke.pdf) (PDF) on 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2010-06-22. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Gemeente Zonnebeke"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071009140300/http://www.zonnebeke.be/pdf/bibliotheek/cultuurbeleidsplan%20-%20ontwerp.pdf) (PDF). Archived from [the original](http://www.zonnebeke.be/pdf/bibliotheek/cultuurbeleidsplan%20-%20ontwerp.pdf) (PDF) on 2007-10-09. Retrieved 2008-02-10. ## External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Zonnebeke](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Zonnebeke). - [Official website](http://www.zonnebeke.be) - Information available in [Dutch](/source/Dutch_language) and limited information available in [English](/source/English_language), [French](/source/French_language) and [German](/source/German_language) Places adjacent to Zonnebeke Langemark-Poelkapelle Staden Roeselare Ypres Zonnebeke Moorslede Comines-Warneton (WHT) Wervik v t e Municipalities in the Province of West Flanders, Flanders, Belgium Bruges Beernem Blankenberge Bruges/Brugge Damme Jabbeke Knokke-Heist Oostkamp Torhout Zedelgem Zuienkerke Diksmuide Diksmuide Houthulst Koekelare Kortemark Lo-Reninge Kortrijk Anzegem Avelgem Deerlijk Harelbeke Kortrijk Kuurne Lendelede Menen Spiere-Helkijn Waregem Wevelgem Zwevegem Ostend Bredene De Haan Gistel Ichtegem Middelkerke Oostende/Ostend Oudenburg Roeselare Hooglede Ingelmunster Izegem Ledegem Lichtervelde Moorslede Roeselare Staden Tielt Ardooie Dentergem Oostrozebeke Pittem Tielt Wielsbeke Wingene Veurne Alveringem De Panne Koksijde Nieuwpoort Veurne Ypres Heuvelland Ieper/Ypres Langemark-Poelkapelle Mesen Poperinge Vleteren Wervik Zonnebeke Bold indicates cities Italic indicates Municipalities with language facilities Authority control databases International VIAF GND Geographic MusicBrainz area Other Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Zonnebeke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zonnebeke) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zonnebeke?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.