Second paragraph of third chapter:

‘Steenbergen in het bos’ of later ‘Vaalbeke ten wauwere’, gelegen aan het lagere en moerassige deel van het Kouterbos (later aan de vijvers), behoorde als een leen van de heren van Heverlee tot de 15de eeuw toe aan de familie van Spontin.² Dat verschillende heren invloed hadden in een bepaald gebied is te begrijpen in de verhoudingen van het middeleeuwse leenstelsel van leenheren en leenmannen. Nadien erfden verschillende families de bezittingen van Steenbergen of verkochten ze verder. De hertogen van Arenberg verwierven de bossen rond het gebied van de heren van Steenbergen door het huweliik van Charles van Arenberg met Anne van Croÿ, na het overlüiden van haar broer die geen erfgenamen had (1612). De heerlikheid bleef in handen van de heren van Steenbergen.³	“Steenbergen in het bos” (Steenbergen in the forest), or later “Vaalbeke ten wauwere,” located on the lower, marshy part of the Kouterbos (later on the ponds), belonged to the Spontin family as a fief of the lords of Heverlee until the 15th century. That different lords held influence in a given area is understandable in the medieval feudal system of lords and vassals. Subsequently, various families inherited or sold the Steenbergen estates. The Dukes of Arenberg acquired the forests surrounding the area of ​​the lords of Steenbergen through the marriage of Charles of Arenberg to Anne of Croÿ, after the death of her brother, who had no heirs (1612). The lordship remained in the hands of the lords of Steenbergen.
² Martens, E., p. 61-62
³ Mertens, E. p. 60; lijst van de heren van Aarschot, Bierbeek en Oud-Heverlee: de Croÿ en Arenberg

This was the other lovely local history book (after @Wouters Wondere Wereld) that I picked up during one of the lockdown breaks in 2021, a nicely illustrated chronicle of the small resort area 2 km south of our house, known as “Het Zoet Water”, ie “The Sweet Water” or “The Fresh Water”. Currently the ponds are drained stretches of mud waiting for a municipal refreshment; the whole area is already the most touristy spot in our commune, and has perhaps potential for more.

It’s a short punchy book with lots of photographs, looking at the history and economics of the once isolated community, and the influence of the Dukes of Arenberg in its development. At one point the houses around the ponds became a local hotbed of Protestantism (these things are relative), but most of the heretics were firmly persuaded to move to America. Later, the development of one of Belgium’s first amusement parks brought in capital and even a royal visit from the excited young Prince Philippe in 1964 (he is now our king). With the decline of the amusement park (due to growing expense and competition) the Zoete Waters has settled back on providing a playground for children and a showground for artworks, along with a number of decent restaurants which we duly patronise. If you follow me on social media, you’ll have seen my occasional posts of Christmas services from the Baroque chapel of Our Lady of Steenbergen, tucked into the woods just beside the lake.

You can get Het Zoet Water door de Eeuwen Heen through the local history society here.

This was the shortest unread book that I had acquired in 2021. Next on that pile is Howul: A Life’s Journey, by David Shannon.