Houthulst

HOUTHULST

Province : West-Vlaanderen
Additions : 1977 Klerken, Merkem

Official blazon

(1961) Van zilver met vijf dennebomen van sinopel, gerangschikt en geplant op een grasgrond van hetzelfde, met schildhoofd van keel, beladen met twee sabels van zilver, schuinkruisgewijze geplaatst, de punten naar omhoog, begeleid rechts door het jaartal

1914 en links door het jaartal 1918, van goud.

(1986) In goud een kromstaf van lazuur ondersteund door een raaf van sabel en begeleid door twee afgewende sleutels van keel.

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on March 11, 1986.

The arms are derived from the arms of the Abbey of St. Peter in Corbie in France. In 1096 the Abbey received part of the village of Houthulst as well as extensive woods in loan from Robrecht II, Count of Flanders. In 1599 all property of the Abbey was sold to the Van Bocholtz family, who remained Lords of Houthulst until 1793. As the woods were in the area of the three former municipalities, the symbol of the Abbey was chosen as the arms for the new municipality. The raven in the arms is canting (Corbeau in French) for the village of Corbie, the crosiers stand for the abbey, the keys for St. Peter.

The previous arms were granted on March 29, 1961.

These arms show in the base five trees, which are a canting symbol (Hout=wood). The crossed swords and the dates 1914-1918 refer to the First World War and the battles around the village.