Vosselare

Vosselare
Deelgemeente
Vosselare seen from the Schipdonk Canal
Vosselare within Nevele
Coordinates: 51°01′35″N 3°33′18″E / 51.02639°N 3.55500°E / 51.02639; 3.55500
Country	Belgium
Province	East Flanders
Municipality	Nevele
Postal code	9850

Vosselare is a submunicipality and parish of the community of Nevele, Belgium.

The parish is first mentioned in 694 as Fursitio in the yearbook of the St-Peter Abbey of Ghent, and again in 802. Later on it is referred to as 'Voslariensis ecclesiae' (1087), Vurslar (1122), Vorselar (1125), Furselare (1130), Vurselaer (1140), Vorselaer (1147), Vursselare (1230, 1320, 1579), Vorslaer (1330), Vurselare (1364, 1500) and Vosselare for the first time in 1650. The name ‘Vosselaere’ is also used.

Although other explanations are given, the name Vosselare probably originates from 'Vurst' and 'Laar', meaning an open, empty space in a forest.

The village of Vosselare was attacked by Charles de Valois's army in 1300. The village was also affected by the battle of Nevele on 13 May 1381. On 25 May 1452 there was another battle near the village, between the city of Ghent, under the command of Jean Van Melle, and the Count of Estampes.Geuzen attacked the church and a farmhouse on 4 October 1575. The village was attacked by Louis XIV's French troops in May 1673, October 1674, January 1675 and during the siege of Ghent in 1678. Six thousand French knights occupied the village and destroyed the harvest on 18 August 1684. The church was pillaged twice in 1688, and again in 1691 and 1696. Mortality also increased between 1676 and 1695 by an (unnamed) epidemic disease.

The heerlijkheid Vosselare is known from its lord 'Willelmus de Vurslar' or 'de Forselar' (1122, 1125), while his brother Balduinus de Furslare is mentioned in 1130. The family is also mentioned later as Heinric van Vurselare (1364) and Arnold van Vurselaer (1413) but the heerlijkheid was already passed over to Thomas van den Turre, who was mentioned as a participant in the Battle of the Golden Spurs in 1302.

Within Vosselare, the heerlijkheid (or the 'Hof Ter Meeren' or 'Hof ter Mere' castle) is of importance. It belonged to the lords ‘de Meere’ or ‘van der Meere(n)’. The heerlijkheid covered parts of many neighbouring communities. The castle was destroyed during World War I, and was rebuilt in 1923–1924.