English version
The "Boer" war, battle in Meerhout - large
This mistery is a multi of about 5 km
The coords for the start you will find at the endcache of the "medium" version
You can do both "medium" and "large in one visit with the information found at WP6 of the "medium" version
Pricking is not needed at any WP, just at the final stage of this "large" version
Nuttig om weten
Deze "mystery" is een multi van ongeveer 5km.
De coördinaten van het startpunt vind je aan de eindcache van de "medium" versie.
Je kan de "medium" en the "large" in één keer doen met de informatie die je krijgt aan WP6 van de medium"
Aan de waypoints is geen prikstok nodig, wel aan de eindcache.
Een beetje geschiedenis
Op 26 juni 1794 versloeg het Franse leger, in de slag bij Fleurus, de Oostenrijkers, en de Oostenrijkse Nederlanden kwamen onder Frans bewind. De Fransen gingen verder en eind 1795 waren de volledige Nederlanden in hun bezit. De Oostenrijkers trokken zich terug achter de Rijn.
Vanaf 1 oktober 1795 was het Frans de voertaal in de Nederlanden. De Fransen maakten zich niet populair met zware belastingen en een antigodsdienstige politiek. De priesters werden vervolgd en de kerken werden gesloten.
De Fransen voerden ook de algemene dienstplicht in met de wet van 5 september 1798 (of in hun telling : 19 fructidor VI) voor alle mannen tussen 20 en 25 jaar.
Deze wet was de directe aanleiding tot de boerenkrijg. De leuze “voor outer en heerd” werd de basis voor hun strijd. De boeren werden door de Fransen “brigands” genoemd, dat kun je vertalen als struikrovers. De Fransen werden dan weer spottend “sansculotten” (zonder broeken) genoemd omwille van hun witte broeken.
Een eerste incident gebeurde in Overmere op 12 oktober 1798, er was een een inbeslagname bij een boer-belastingsweigeraar. Verschillende grotere en kleinere veldslagen vonden plaats tot uiteindelijk tot de Brabantse ruggengraat werd gebroken door de slag bij Hasselt op 5 december 1798.
In die periode situeert zich ook de slag bij Meerhout, in feite meerdere gevechten in en rond Meerhout en zijn kerkdorp Hulsen (nu een deel van Balen). Verschillende bronnen zijn het dikwijls onderling oneens over de details, maar in de meeste publicaties vind je volgende data terug.
Op 5 november was er een eerste treffen met de Fransen, de boeren wonnen deze slag.
Op 12 november probeert de Franse ruiterij, onder leiding van generaal Chabert, Meerhout te heroveren. Zij zijn echter zwaar in ondertal (1050 Fransen tegen 8000 boeren) en moesten zich terugtrekken.
Hun wraak was echter zoet, en op 18 november 1798 veroverden zij het dorp, doodden er 16 personen, en plunderden het dorp.
Het boerenleger bleef echter in de omgeving, en op 22 november werd de definitieve slag bij Meerhout geleverd. De Fransen wonnen en plunderden het dorp Meerhout nogmaals. Volgens hen werden er bij die slag 200 “brigands” gedood.
Deze slag gebeurde op de grens van Meerhout en Balen, in het gehucht “Lil”. De straatnaam “Brigandstraat” herinnert nog aan deze veldslag.
Deze multi wil een kleine herinnering zijn aan deze periode en loopt o.a. over het slagveld van 22 november 1798. De cache is opgedeeld in twee delen, Het eerste deel (medium) loopt enkel rond de Hulsense bossen, een tweede deel (Large) is een uitbreiding van de eerste via het dorpscentrum van Meerhout. Je kan de twee combineren of ze deel per deel afwerken. Als je het in twee keer doet dan zul je voor de lus rond Meerhout vermoedelijk een andere parkeerplaats zoeken.
Als je getalwaarden moet zoeken is dit steeds volgens de methode a=1, b=2,.....,z=26.
Opletten met de juiste volgorde van de wiskundige bewerkingen.
A bit of history
On June 26th 1794, the Austrian army was defeated by the French at the Battle of Fleurus, and the Austrian Netherlands (roughly Belgium nowadays), came under French rule. The French continued and by 1795 the entire Netherlands (Holland included) were in their possession. The Austrians retreated behind the Rhine.
From October 1st 1795, French was the official language of the Netherlands. The French made themselves unpopular with heavy taxes and antireligious politics. The priests were persecuted and churches were closed.
The French also organised the general conscription by the law of September 5th 1798 ( or their era : 19 fructidor VI ) for all men between 20 and 25 years .
This law was the direct cause of the "boer" war . The slogan " voor outer en heerd " (for altar and home) became the basis for their struggle . The farmers were called " brigands " by the French, which can be translated as highwaymen . The French were then called (scornfully) " sans-culottes " (without pants ) because of their white trousers .
The first incident happened in Overmere on October 12th 1798 , there with a farmer tax refuser . Several larger and smaller battles took place until, in the end, the spine of the Brabant was broken in the Battle of Hasselt on December 5th, 1798 .
In that period we can situate the battle of Meerhout , in fact several battles in and around Meerhout and its parish Hulsen ( now part of Balen ) . Several sources often disagree about the details , but in most publications you can find the following data.
On the 5th of November, there was a first encounter with the French, the farmers won this battle .
On November 12th, the French cavalry , led by General Chabert , tried to recapture Meerhout. However, they were outnumbered (1050 French against 8000 farmers) and had to withdraw .
Their revenge was sweet , and on November 18th, 1798 they conquered the village , killed 16 people, and plundered the town .
The peasants army stayed in the area, and on November 22nd, the final battle at Meerhout took place . The French won and plundered the village of Meerhout again . According to them, 200 " brigands were killed in this action.
This battle took place on the border of Meerhout and Balen , in the hamlet of "Lil " . The street name " Brigandstraat" reminds us of this battle .
This multi wants to be a little reminder of this period and passes the battlefield of November 22nd, 1798 .
if you are asked for the value of a word or letter, the method is a = 1 , b = 2 , ..... , z = 26 .
Stages
Parking N 51°08.791 – E 5°06.849 (if you combine both "medium and "large" in one visit), otherwise near WP7 of the "medium" version.
Stage 1: If everything is Ok then you have found those coordinates already at WP6 or at the end of the "medium" version. Water under your feet. The diameter of the tube = LM
Stage 2 : N 51 ° 0D.(8 * LM - L - E) - E 5 ° 0B.(LM + 43). Though nameplates suggest otherwise there are no cowboys and Indians walking around .. From the WP you see a house with an unusual name (although, in that part of te world such a thing is not uncommon). The numerical value of the first letter of the second word of the name = N.
Stage 3: N 51 ° 0D.NNN - E 5 ° 0C.(LM * L - L). (Un) natural? Here you will find the value for P in a tube. Take your time here, because you are at a historic homestead, the "Monnikerhoeve" or Great Farm. This homestead is already mentioned in the year 741. In 1229 Cistercian sisters moved there and around 1300 and it is mentioned as a "tiendeschuur" (sort of tax barn, 10% of the harvest had to be payed as a tax). The farm was rebuilt several times, the last renovation just after the second world war. This farm is also connected with the "boer" war. Here "brigand" Jan Grietens was born, the man who formed the "boer" army of Meerhout.
Stage 4: N 51 ° 0(N + P).(A) (F + G) (P) - E 5 ° 0(L / 2) (L-N) (M) (H). A large stone monument in memory of the "boer" war. This monument was erected in 1898 by architect and sculptor Jan Cockerols and Frans Deckers, both from Antwerp. The year is stated on the monument. There is also a second year on the monument. This is the year that the remains of the fallen "brigands" were transferred from the cemetery in Meerhout. The third digit of this number = Q.
Stage 5: N51 ° 0(N + P).(LM * 11 - N) - E 5 ° 0Q.(Q + N) (P + Q) (N). Another reminder of the "boer" war, somewhat displaced in the corner of the churchyard is an iron cross on a small hill with stones. This would be the original grave of the fallen brigands. We are now near the St. Trudo church, during the French occupation this church was used as a horse stable. Now that we're close to the market, the market (with kiosk) has a typical (historical) form, and reflects an ancient agricultural system, Charlemagne was a big fan of this system. How many sides has this market? = R
Stage 6: N51 ° 0L.(M) (Q + N) (R) - E 5 ° 0Q.(P + Q) (M) (P-Q). Colorful gates ensure the safety of cyclists.. We see four gates with an equal number of yellow reflective tape. How many tapes are on a gate? = X - 1
Stage 7: N 51 ° 0(X-1).(N) (Q-E) (X) - E 5 ° 0P.(M) (P-Q) (Q) here a fishway was constructed along the old water mill. On the railing of the bridge hangs an animal that easily could live here. De lettervalue of the first two lettes of this animal = S. If you want to walk to WP8 quietly follow the path along the Nete eastwards.
Stage 8 : N 51° 08.416 - E 5° 05.402 : You're at the chapel of the hamlet Lil. Look around and see how many brigands really were killed in the battle near Meerhout (First word of the second sentence, it's in Dutch but I'm sure it will ring a bell). This number = T
Stage 9; Final location for the "large" version. Location: N 51 ° 0(S + T).PLT - E 5 ° 0P.(S + T) (T) (Q)... Have fun with the logging. If you combine "medium" and "large" in one visit you will find also find the coords for WP8 of the "medium" version.
Good luck.