Boskapel (Buggenhout-bos)

About

The Baroque chapel is a chapel in the Buggenhout forest near the East Flemish town of Buggenhout. In 2002 the chapel and its surroundings were recognized as monuments and in 2004 the 500th anniversary of the chapel was celebrated. In the chapel Our Lady of Smarts is honored. During the 'Bosbegangkenis' there is a procession and a folk festival with many traditions. Every year on the third Sunday after Easter, the novena begins in honor of Our Lady of Smarts or the Forest Engagement.

Legend: Inside the chapel is a memorial stone that makes clear why a chapel was just built here. After the death of her husband Jan de Rijcke, Jacoba van Heffene, who was left behind with her six-year-old son Joos de Rijckejaar, commissioned this. The following legend is told about Jan's death:

In the year 1504, the 4th of December Jan de Rycke, drossaard van Buggenhout and Grimbergen was invited to a hunting party. This nobleman was one of the most famous hunters of his time, fearless and brave in the attack, bold and agile in the defense. A lot of wild boars, hares and roaches he probably had already bitten in the sand, because when he went hunting, a few...