Roeselare (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Polish war memorial in Roeselare was restored by specialists Jan Vranken and Michiel Dejonghe of Updo Stonerenew after graffiti vandalism in early August 2025, ahead of the September 7, 2025, commemoration.
As VRT News reported, the Polish war memorial on the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwemarkt in Roeselare was cleaned this morning, Aug 28, 2025, after it had been defaced with graffiti earlier this month.
The city asked Updo Stonerenew, a local company led by Jan Vranken and Michiel Dejonghe, to restore the site. Both men, who completed specialist training in Italy, carried out the work with care. They used safe cleaning methods that removed the graffiti without harming the stone.
What restored Roeselare’s Polish war memorial after vandalism?
Vranken and Dejonghe are known in Roeselare for their work on heritage and monuments. With their company, they have already cleaned several chapels in the city and other valuable sites. One of their project was the careful restoration of the grave of Albrecht Rodenbach, the famous Flemish poet, in the old cemetery.
“That requires meticulous and careful renovation,”
says Michiel.
“Both the water pressure and the use of the right products are very important. It’s very different from cleaning a regular facade.”
The damage to the monument had caused severe anger in Roeselare, both among the residents and in political circles. As the work was being done to clean the monument, many people showed their support.
“You can tell that damaging heritage angers a lot of people,”
said Michiel after finishing the job. With the restoration now completed, the monument is ready for the commemoration on September 7, 2025, when the city will once again gather to pay tribute in a respectful setting.
The Polish war memorial in Krottegem was unveiled in 1946, one year after the end of the Second World War. It was built to honour the soldiers of the First Polish Armored Division who helped liberate Roeselare and the surrounding towns in September 1944.
Many Polish soldiers died in the battles across West Flanders, and the city wanted to give them a permanent place of remembrance. Since then, the monument has been the site of annual ceremonies every September 7, where residents, officials, and Polish representatives gather to pay tribute.
The vandalism of the Polish war memorial in Krottegem took place in the first week of August 2025, when graffiti was sprayed onto the bluestone structure. The damage was immediately noticed by residents and reported to the city, sparking outrage and condemnation.
