Belgium (West Flanders)
The town of Poperinge
(in Belgium)
Poperinge (town) is situated in South West corner of the provence West Flanders.
Nowadays there are 19.500 inhabitants.
First signs from the past:
During the Roman time there was a "diverticulum" (a branche from a lordway) constructed between the two places Cassel and Aardenburg in Western part of Belgium.
The Popering's town centre is situated on the way crossing the Fleterbeek (Fleterna) and on the way just mentioned.
At that place , approx. in the 5th century, the familie 'Pupurn' lived here in a Villa with several cottage's in the neighbourhood.
After the 'Middle Ages'
In the year 850 the name "Poperinge" is wroten as "Pupurninga Villa" it's pointed to a settlement or a home from a family named..."Pupurn".
It lookes like a France farmer name. At the moment (year2002) the thoughts are more and more about a Keltish name
The emigration of the Van Popering family:
There is no doubt about it , we , the Van Popering family came from this Belgium town.
For instance: Vandenberg (he is from the mountain) Vandemeer (he is from the lake)
Vanpopering; he is from Popering(e)
"Van" means in Dutch "from" a 'geografic' anchor; so Poperinge in Belgium is the beginning of this all.
Persecution of protestants
Due to the persecution of the protestants (1560-1640) by the catholics of Spain (Philip) the van Popering family (and other Belgium protestants) flee from their home villages to the South of Holland (in provence Sealand).
It's possible the Van Popering lived already in Antwerp, due to the surrender of Antwerp in 1580 (in advantage of Philip), the inhabitants of Antwerp emigrated to Holland
In the provence of Zeeland , the inhabitants were 'more or less' free to chose their own religion
Flee to Bergen op Zoom (south -Netherlands)
This religion war with the Spanish was an independency war.
The provinces of Holland also wished to be free from the Spanish government because of the high tax (10 %) and freedom of religion.
In order to achieve this goal Prince William of Orange, count of Holland, became Protestant to oppose the king of Spain, who was catholic.
POPERINGE , at present:
De sky line of Poperinge
You see here the typical green hops scaffoldings(ale raw material) in the surroundings
Some additional pictures from Poperinge at present
near the front of W.W.I (1914-1918)
near the front of W.W.I (1914-1918)
From Poperinge (Belgium) I can provide you some material from the past.
There are several products in Poperinge related to the name "van Popering"
Push, for more information, the "products" button on the left side
According our Dutch national telephone guide there are hundreds of families "van Popering"; most of the family members live in the southern part of the Netherlands against the northern part of Belgium.
Beneath you will find a linking to the internet site frome the town Poperinge in Belgium
It's situated in the Westcorner of Flanders, nearly to the border with N-France.
The people there speak , up to 50 kilometers in France , the Dutch language
Do you like this Belgium-information or do you want more, mail me: cees@vanpopering.com
foto: POPERINGE central square with townhall
click here and see : West Flanders, Belgium with the Poperinge site!
