Living lab Raversijde unveiled
On February 1, 2023, it was 70 years ago that the North Sea coasts of Belgium, the United Kingdom and especially the Netherlands were ravaged by the major flood disaster of 1953. In the search for better coastal protection measures that ensued, a new chapter is now being written for the Belgian coast with the official start of Living Lab Raversijde. Using a research dike that measures wave overtopping and a test setup with dunes in front of the dike, data are being collected on the beach at Raversijde to make our coastal defenses more efficient in the future. Testerep project partners VLIZ, Flanders Hydraulics Research and KU Leuven are also involved in the project.
2022-02-01
Testerep dated with the use of OSL
A crucial element for retracing the Testerep story is obtaining accurate dates for different phases in the evolution of the coastal landscape. One of the state-of-the-art techniques we are using to shed light on this matter is the dating and profiling of sediment samples with Optically Stimulated Luminescence or OSL. Expert dr. Tim Kinnaird from the University of St Andrews in Scotland visited VLIZ on 26 and 27 January to sample and analyze marine cores from the Stroombank with a portable OSL device. Because the samples had to stay shielded from daylight, the research was carried out in a WWII bunker, specifically adapted for this purpose.
2022-01-26
Testerep presented at the an international workshop
On 17 and 18 January 2023, an international workshop on ‘Geoarchaeological reconstructions of Holocene coastal landscapes along the North Sea’ took place in the Groeningemuseum in Bruges, organized by the archaeological service Raakvlak, the PROSPECT international thematic network and the High Tide – Low Tide CRA of Ghent University. It offered an ideal opportunity to present the Testerep project to both Belgian and international colleagues who are carrying out similar research and to exchange ideas. After a first day of lectures, a series of practical training sessions followed on day two, where we were able to further improve our skills in describing, interpreting and sampling coastal sediment cores. An inspiring two days!
2022-01-17
Crash course Testerep with the podcast of the University of Flanders
Episode 496 of the University of Flanders podcast is entirely devoted to drowned medieval Ostend. Landscape archaeologist Dr. Soetkin Vervust (VUB) explains the research conducted within the Testerep project and its importance. Why did entire pieces of land on what was then the Testerep Peninsula disappear under the waves? Was that due to the rising sea level or did humans have something to do with it? And will our coastal cities soon follow as the world warms up?
2022-12-19
Premiere theatorshow: "De Verdronken Ballades van TESTEREP” on December second 2022.
“De Verdronken Ballades van TESTEREP” will premiere on December 2, 2022 in CC De Grote Post. Experience the end of Testerep like never before! Five actors and musicians sing and play their hearts out to keep the island of Testerep above water. Each performance evening is determined by the audience: a new combination of songs and scenes, which come together in a finale. So don't miss this spectacle!
2022-12-02
Citizen science at the heart of the second stakeholder meeting.
On October 21, 2022, the second stakeholder meeting of the Testerep project took place. The central theme of this meeting was citizen science. After a brief overview by the project partners, three experts each proposed a different citizen science trajectory linked to project Testerep: 'CoastSnap', 'Amateur metal detection' and 'Historical research'. In the subsequent interactive moment, stakeholders, project partners and interested parties exchanged ideas about the various citizen science initiatives. The results of this brainstorming will be included in furthering the different initiatives.
2022-10-21
Testerep mapped using a magnetic survey.
Last week 360survey mapped the area of the former Testerep peninsula on behalf of VLIZ. They did this using magnetic measurements of the seabed. Magnetic measurements enable researchers to distinguish and map sedimentary structures based on differing responses. The survey took place near the coastline between Ostend and Nieuwpoort, focussing on the historic site of Raversijde and the old Yser estuary.
2022-10-17
Testerep introduced to international scientific community
Last week, the Testerep project was presented to an international audience for the first time. During the 3rd International NEPTUNE workshop, members of our team, with funding from INQUA CMP, were able to present the story of Testerep to several international colleagues and experts. The workshop aims to introduce young scientists to multidisciplinary techniques for the analysis and reconstruction of drowned ancient landscapes.
Read more about the NEPTUNE workshop.
2022-10-05
The Testerep team digs up ancient dikes in Westende and Raversijde
Archaeologists of the Testerep team recently uncovered two historic dikes in Westende and Raversijde. These excavations give us further information about the historical settlements and population of Testerep. Furthermore, information obtained from these excavations can be used to reconstruct the historical onshore Testerep landscape.
2022-09-23
Be part of this unique theatrical and musical procession!
Join, alone or in group, theater group Vagevuur in a unique theatrical and musical procession. Songs will be performed at set times and moments over a distance of 12 km, in order to bring Testerep back to life. The procession will take place in Ostend, Roeselare, Ghent, Brussels and Leuven. Be sure not to miss this spectacle!
2022-08-26
VLIZ researchers collect drill cores and seismic information at sea.
For the second time this year, researchers from the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) came ashore with cores and seismic data from the drowned area of the Testerep peninsula. During a targeted campaign of four days, between Ostend and Nieuwpoort, the scientists collected 25 drill cores and more than 45 km of seismic traces. These, after analysis, will provide important information about the history of Testerep
2022-07-18
VUB team looking for traces of Testerep in the landscape.
Researchers from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) recently visited the known and possible dikes of the former Testerep Peninsula. These dikes are usually still visible in the landscape in the shape of plot boundaries and roads, and sometimes also in the form of small differences in height. The purpose of the site visit was to identify suitable locations for sampling and other field work later this year.
2022-07-07
Kayaking on the Testerepvliet
What better way for the Testerep team to uncover the mysteries of the former peninsula than to see the research area with their own eyes? While kayaking in the hinterland of Middelkerke, the team became acquainted with the remaining part of the tidal channel that once separated Testerep from the rest of Flanders. Back on shore, an exciting meeting followed where the partners discussed the progress of the project.
Get to know this beautiful and historic piece of nature yourself
2022-06-25
Bring Testerep to life in a co-creation with the theater group Vagevuur.
In co-creation with both novice and more experienced writers, the theater group Vagevuur wants to bring Testerep's story to life. During the writing performance at Theater Aan Zee you will work together with professional writing coaches on stories and characters, which will serve as inspiration for the performance 'De Verdronken Ballades van TESTEREP'.
2022-06-04
The first cores of the Testerep project on board of the Simon Stevin
On June 9, 2022, we brought the first cores from the Testerep project on board the Simon Stevin. These cores are taken at specific locations along a seismic survey. This gives us an idea of which sediments correspond to a particular seismic signal. Furthermore, the collected sediments can provide us with important information about what the environment must have looked like in the past and we can start dating it.
read more about the techniques used
2022-05-09
TG Vagevuur bring us "Verdronken Ballades van Testerep".
Five actors and musicians from TG Vagevuur sing and play their hearts out to keep the island of Testerep above water, singing fighting, with a massive decor.
2022-04-28
The Testerep project was officially launched with the first stakeholder meeting
With a first successful stakeholder meeting, the SBO-FWO project Testerep: 5000 years of coastal evolution has now completely started. The meeting started with a short presentation of the project partners and their contribution to the project. The VUB (Maritime Cultures Research Institute) and VLIZ (Seascapes Past and Future) outlined the historical context of the Testerep peninsula, explained the scientific research carried out earlier and indicated the research objectives of the project.
KULeuven (Hydraulics and Geotechnics) clarified how they will model the demise of Testerep, while HOWest (Digital Arts & Entertainment) showed how they will bring Testerep back to life through visualizations and simulations.
The second part of the stakeholder meeting zoomed in on the important social finality of the project. The planned valorisation trajectories, such as an extension of the citizen science initiative 'Coastsnap' and a traveling exhibition, were discussed. The meeting ended with an interactive session in which the various stakeholders discussed their contribution to and ideas about the project.
2022-04-20
Podcast 'Hoeveroute' of the City of Ostend halts at Testerep
How do present-day Ostend and the drowned peninsula of Testerep relate to each other? And what role did the rising sea level play in the disappearance of medieval Ostend? You can hear this and many more stories in the podcast of the City of Ostend as a result of the new bike route Hoeveroute.
2022-03-24
