Vlassenbroek Along the river Scheldt (Belgium) - Oil on canvas by Galerie Ringoot

In this oil painting, Pieter Ringoot presents an atmospheric view of Vlassenbroek, featuring St Gertrude’s Church, the surrounding trees and the village as seen from the Scheldt embankment. The winding road gently draws the eye into the painting, towards the church and the houses nestled amongst the greenery. In the foreground, the warm red roofs are particularly striking, contrasting beautifully with the soft greens of the trees, grass and woods. This lends the work an almost summery, rural tranquillity.

Vlassenbroek is a small village on the Scheldt, near Dendermonde in East Flanders. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it became a favourite haunt for artists. The village, the dykes, the Scheldt, the church and the surrounding landscape formed an important source of inspiration for painters from the Dendermonde School.

The Dendermonde School was a regional artistic movement that flourished around Dendermonde and the banks of the Scheldt, particularly from the second half of the 19th century onwards. Vlassenbroek played an important role in this as an artists’ village. Painters were drawn to the tranquil polder landscape, the river, the dykes, the village scenes and the distinctive light over the Scheldt. The movement followed in the tradition of the Kalmthout School and the influence of Barbizon, with artists seeking to depict the landscape not in an idealised manner, but directly and evocatively. Landscapes, river views and village centres formed the core of their work.

Later, Vlassenbroek became best known as a peaceful artists’ and walking village, popular with cyclists, walkers and those wishing to explore the Scheldt region.

In this work, Pieter Ringoot captures not only a recognisable place, but also the tranquillity and charm of the Flemish landscape. The combination of the church, village road, red roofs and green surroundings makes this painting a warm and nostalgic village scene.