Hof der dingen - Beet Harvester

This tool was kindly donated by Gratiana Lycke, whose grandfather, Adolf Depoorter from Koekelare, worked as a cross-border labourer in Northern France harvesting sugar beets. 

“They were the kind of hard-working West Flemish people who earned our region's reputation of grit, perseverance, and sheer determination”. 

Beet cultivation, however, wasn’t limited to Northern France. Many farmers in West Flanders also grew beets – traditionally both sugar beets and fodder beets, the latter used to feed livestock. 

Take the sugar factory in Veurne, for example. Since 1924, this factory has produced sugar from locally harvested beets and eventually became one of the town’s major employers. Unfortunately, due to globalisation and increasing international competition, the factory was forced to shut down in 2005 – leaving over 200 seasonal workers without a job. 

Today, only one sugar processing company remains in West Flanders: Lebbe Sugar Specialities in Oostkamp, which has been in business for more than a century. But did you know that beets are used for more than sugar or animal feed? In the Westhoek region, they’re part of the heartwarming Saint Martin’s Day tradition. Every November 11, children carve out beets, place a candle inside to create adorable handmade lanterns. They carry them during their town’s Saint Martin’s parade, going door to door asking for sweets – much like Halloween in the United States. 

We’ll leave you with this wonderful West Flemish proverb linked to beets: het zwin deur de bjèten jagen. Want to a wager a guess about its meaning? We’ll give you a hint: if you head to the immersive room next door and party like it's 1999… then you’re doing exactly that. 

Party like a proud West Flemish person and jaag het zwin deur de bjèten.