Welcome to the Ark van Zarren
The Ark van Zarren is a nonactive farm (2 ,35 ha) in the middle of the province of West-Flanders, approximately 8 km. from Dixmude (Diksmuide), on the edge of the Westhoek. Our nearest neighbours run a mixed farm. Sarne, as the area was known among the Romans, was located near the coastline. With Esen, it was the first country conquered on the sea. In the 9 th century, a church community was founded here and the land around the Ark van Zarren also belonged to it.
Unfortunately little or no data on the history of the farm in the period before “the great war” have been preserved. In World War I, Zarren was the last provisioning station for the Germans. Here they had their observation posts to watch the front. The German soldiers lived mostly in the occupied farms. During the final offensive and the liberation, most of the farms were totally destroyed or set afire by the escaping Germans. The farm “de Ark van Zarren” fell also prey to the fire and underwent essential renovation after the war in 1920. Since that time, the condition of the buildings and the comfort remained basically unchanged until the late nineties, when the last active farmer decided to leave court Vandewalle to retire. We bought the farm in the year 2000. We haven’t made significant changes to the external character of the home. It has been restored with much love and care to recall the romantic and rural style.
There is a bio herbal-, flower-, and vegetable garden and lots of farm animals, such as donkeys, sheep, peacocks, chickens and geese enjoy the countryside. The swallows have also returned and many other bird species, such as sparrows, tits, trushes and wrens, feel at home in the Ark van Zarren. If the purpose of your holiday is relaxation and rest, the Ark van Zarren is the place, without question. We would like to share this feeling of rest and harmony with our guests, who want to escape the rush and commotion of the city. From here, you have the opportunity to discover a wide range of areas in the sparkling Westhoek, whether you prefer to do it in a relaxed or sportive way. The region offers a lot of walking and cycling routes, the nature reserve De Blankaart, the Yser Valley (de IJzervallei) which passes numerous war cemeteries in its way up to the coast. Neighbouring cities such as Ypres (Ieper), Veurne, Dixmude (Diksmuide), Lille (Rijsel), Bruges (Brugge) and a little bit further French Flanders and the Opal Coast, invite you for a day trip.
If you would like to have further information or a brochure on the region’s attractions, please contact the tourist service center of Dixmude (Diksmuide) (tel. +32 (0)51/519146 or e-mail toerisme@stad.diksmuide.be) or visit the website www.toerismewesthoek.be. It is also our pleasure to provide our guests with the necessary informations.
We look forward to receiving you soon for a successful stay.
Elsje Helewaut & Chery Derycke, the Ark van Zarren
Zarren-Lindestraat 44 * 8610 Zarren - Kortemark 
Tel +32 (0)51 63 79 61 * info@arkvanzarren.be