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The history of the town of Oostakker (parish before 1795, and municipality from 1795 until 1976) probably dates back to before the Romans. The village was the center of the region between the Scheldt, the Sassevaart (now the canal Ghent-Terneuzen) and the Durme. It's now a district of the city Ghent.
Due to the expansion of the port of Ghent, the farms ( Photo 5 ) are gradually replaced by industry or dwellings.
A pilgrimage destination, Oostakker-Lourdes, dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes (created in the 19th century, for those who couldn't afford to a pilgrimage to Lourdes [South of France]). Each parish in the region (within walking distance) did organize a pilgrimage on foot in the month of May ( Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3, Photo 4 ).
It gradually replaced the pilgrimage destination of Mendonck. The last did have his roots in the dark times before the Romans, and was a meeting point for the youth. That role was taken over by Oostakker-Lourdes.
If you don't find the birthplace of one of your ancestors in the region, look in the parish registers of the villages between your village and the local pilgrimage destination. It's possible that you find what you're looking for (as I did).
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