Lapscheure (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The only primary school in Lapscheure, ’t Nestje, will close permanently at the end of this school year with 21 pupils. Principal Sophie Van Hulle, Alderman Lut Fockedey, and Mayor Joachim Cons cite low enrolment, accessibility, and teacher shortages.
As VRT News reported, the only primary school in Lapscheure, near Damme, in the province of West Flanders, Belgium, will close its doors at the end of this school year. The school, called ’t Nestje, has been part of the village for more than 400 years, marking the end of a long local tradition of education. The closure comes after several years of low enrolment.
“We’re making this decision with a heavy heart, because the management, teachers, and a very active parent committee have done everything they could to breathe new life into ‘t Nestje,”
says Sophie Van Hulle of the Karel De Goede school group.
“They’ve created promotional videos, organised campaigns, and worked with us to develop a new vision for the school”
What is causing Lapscheure’s only primary school ’t Nestje, to close permanently?
According to officials, this year, only 21 pupils are registered, falling below the 24-student minimum required by the Flemish government to keep the school open. The school is now in its first grace year, and if numbers do not rise next year, the shutdown will be final.
Principal Van Hulle said the situation reflects a wider trend in rural areas, where young families are moving away to bigger towns and cities. Despite many attempts to attract more children, the school could not reach the required number.
“Fewer students also means fewer resources,”
explains Van Hulle.
“But ‘t Nestje is housed in an old building, where fixed costs remain the same, but unexpected investments are also necessary.”
Officials mentioned that finding teachers has also become increasingly difficult. ’t Nestje uses mixed-grade classes, where pupils from different year levels are taught together. This system demands teachers who are highly motivated and ready to take on extra challenges.
“You need teachers who are 200 percent committed,”
said Van Hulle.
“It’s rewarding work, but not easy.”
The closure of ’t Nestje, the only primary school in Lapscheure, has raised concern within the Damme city council. Officials say the shutdown is not only the result of low pupil numbers but also of road and transport issues around the village.
Limited public transport and poor road connections have made it difficult for families to reach the school easily. Over the years, some parents decided to send their children to schools in nearby towns.
“The former expressway from Knokke to Antwerp has been converted into a motorway with far fewer exits. This makes Lapscheure less accessible, and that also affects student numbers. Add to that the unfavourable birth rate forecasts, and you see that keeping the school open is unrealistic,”
Comments
20 responses to “Primary School in Lapscheure ’t Nestje Closes Permanently”
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Closing a school that’s been around longer than most politicians’ careers? Classic! Guess those 21 kids will now have to find their wisdom elsewhere – perhaps the local café? 😂✌️
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Closing the only primary school in Lapscheure? Brilliant move! Who needs education in a quaint village when you can have a quaint village without kids instead? 😂✌️
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Closing a school after 400 years? Talk about a long-term investment gone wrong! Maybe they should have handed out free waffles instead of promotional videos. 😂
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Closing the only primary school in Lapscheure? Brilliant move! I guess the 21 pupils were just too much of a crowd for the local politicians. 😂🏫
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Looks like Lapscheure is really committed to simplifying life; who needs a school when you can just send the little ones to the next village? 🎓✌️
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Closing a school that’s been around longer than your grandfather’s old stories? Classic move, isn’t it? 🙄 Just what every quaint village dreams of – fewer kids and even more empty classrooms!
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Closing ‘t Nestje, eh? After 400 years, they finally figured out that 21 kids can’t keep a school running. Maybe they should’ve tried adding a football field or a decent Wi-Fi signal instead of just “breathing new life” into it! 😂🏫
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Closing the only school in Lapscheure? Brilliant! Because why would we want 21 kids in one place when we can let them roam free like lost sheep in the countryside? 🐑
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Closing a school after 400 years? Now that’s a bold move—guess they figured 21 pupils were just too much to handle! 🏫🚪
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Seems like ’t Nestje couldn’t manage to lure in enough little ones to keep the doors open—maybe they should’ve offered free chocolate and fries instead. 🍟 What a charming little tradition to end with just 21 pupils! 🤷♂️
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Closing a school that’s been around longer than your granny’s recipes? That’s just what we need—fewer kids and more empty classrooms. Who needs education in a quaint little village anyway? 🤷♂️
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Closing after 400 years? Just what every quaint little village needs—a proper goodbye to education! Guess the folks in Lapscheure will just have to teach their kids about the world via YouTube now. 📉🍷
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Closing a school after 400 years? Brilliant strategy! Just what we need—more empty buildings in the countryside to complement our picturesque landscapes. 🏫💔
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Closing a school that’s been around for 400 years? Brilliant move, lads! Who needs education when you can just watch the village turn into a ghost town? 💁♂️📉
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Closing a school with a mere 21 pupils? Well, that’s one way to ensure the next generation becomes a master of “How to relocate” at an early age! 🏃♂️💨
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Looks like ’t Nestje is taking an early retirement—21 kids? Even a café in Brussels would close for less! 🤷♂️ Guess it’s time to enroll in life lessons instead.
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Looks like Lapscheure’s ‘t Nestje is taking a permanent holiday—can’t say I’m surprised, though; who needs a school when you’ve got a motorway that practically says, “keep driving”? 🚗💨
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Closing a school with only 21 pupils? Brilliant strategy, mate! Who needs education when you can just let the kids explore the wonders of the internet? 😂📉
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Closing a school with just 21 pupils? Brilliant strategy, really. Who needs education when you can have a lovely empty building to admire? 🏫✨
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Closing the only school in Lapscheure? Brilliant strategy—why not just send the kids to a different town where they can learn on a proper motorway instead of ‘t Nestje? 🚗💨
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