Vollezele (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The reporter, Hilse De Groote, plans to use a draft horse while travelling in Belgium for five months. She carries out this journey to commemorate the Museum of the Belgian Draft Horse in Vollezele, located in the province of Flemish Brabant, which celebrates its 25th anniversary.
Reporter Hilse De Groote plans to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Museum of the Belgian Draft Horse in Vollezele through a five-month traversal of Belgium with her draft horse Modest. The expedition starts from Axel before stopping at essential draft horse heritage points, including Oostduinkerke shrimp fishing areas and old mining regions. The journey will reach its conclusion as the museum in Vollezele celebrates its anniversary events when it ends.
Hilse and the draft horse Modest will leave Axel and travel through Belgium for 5 months. What the route will look like is not yet completely fixed, she says:
“There is no fixed schedule or route, but we will see how we feel day by day, both Modest and myself.”
What is fixed is that they will visit a lot of places that were important in the history of the draft horse.
“We will visit some fixed values such as the shrimp fishermen in Oostduinkerke and the mines, where draft horses were used a lot in the past.”
The endpoint of the tour is the Museum of the Belgian Draft Horse in Vollezele in Pajottegem, and if all goes well, they will arrive during the anniversary celebration.
“It will be the icing on the cake, and of course, we hope for a warm welcome,”
Says Hilse.
At the moment, the draft horse, Modest, is still training for the trip so that he is completely ready at the start. That will be during the Easter holidays, so that their arrival coincides with the party.
“We both still have a lot to learn, but that makes it nice, because we will also learn a lot from each other along the way,”
Says Hilse.
Hilse could use some help for the trip.
“We are looking for people in each city we visit who can give us water, straw and possibly a place to sleep.”
Because Hilse will be making a report of the entire route, she is also looking for a cameraman.
“I can’t drive Modest all the time and film at the same time,”
She says. Anyone who feels called can go back to her social media.
It is no coincidence that the museum is located in Vollezele.
“Vollezele was the Mecca of draft horses”,
According to Werner Godfroid of the museum.
“People came from far and wide to buy draft horses here.”
Brilliant, the draft horse that won gold in Paris in 1878, also lived in Vollezele and is seen as one of the forefathers of draft horses.
What is the history behind Hilse De Groote’s draft horse journey in Belgium?
The 25th-anniversary celebration of the Museum of the Belgian Draft Horse in Vollezele motivated reporter Hilse De Groote to travel across Belgium for five months alongside draft horse Modest. According to Werner Godfroid, the Vollezele facility served as the “Mecca of draft horses”, where distant people travelled to purchase the animals.
The town holds a significant place in history due to the brilliant draft horse, which won gold in Paris in 1878 and established itself as an important figure in the breed’s foundation. During his journey, Hilse wants to showcase how draft horses have shaped Belgian culture through stops at historical sites like shrimp fishing ports in Oostduinkerke and mine sites.
The journey begins in Axel but will lead to the museum at the end of its anniversary celebrations. Hilse’s documentary serves as part of the museum’s extended events program, which includes school group tours and a photo contest to honour draft horse heritage in Belgium during their anniversary year.
