| Official Name: | Vrasene |
| Settlement Type: | Village |
| Pushpin Map: | Belgium |
| Pushpin Label Position: | left |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Belgium |
| Pushpin Mapsize: | 250 |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Type2: | Province |
| Subdivision Type3: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name: |  |
| Subdivision Name1: | Flemish Region |
| Subdivision Name2: | East Flanders |
| Subdivision Name3: | Beveren |
| Area Total Km2: | 14.10 |
| Population As Of: | 2021 |
| Population Footnotes: | [1] |
| Population Total: | 4,227 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone: | CET |
| Coordinates: | 51.2192°N 4.1947°W |
Vrasene is a village in the municipality of Beveren in the Belgian province of East Flanders. It is located about west of Antwerp.[2]
Vrasene is located on a hill which is a remnant of an old dune stretching from Stekene to Zwijndrecht. The area around Vrasene was never a noble possession or a fief. The name probably means "settlement on the (former river) Verre". In 1136, the monastery of Salegem was founded in Vrasene and the monks started to cultivate the land. A church has been known to exist in Vrasene since 1183. In 1624, the monastery was destroyed during the religious wars. During the 18th century, Vrasene was a centre of clog production.[3] [4]
In 1845, the village of separated from Vrasene and formed its own municipality.[3] During World War I, the polders around the village were inundated to halt the German progress. During the occupation, the village was part of the so-called Etappegebiet, a military area where 188 bunkers were constructed to guard against a British invasion or Dutch attack. In September 1918, the entire male population was held hostage in the church after a local police officer who allegedly collaborated with the Germans was murdered.[5]
Vrasene was an independent municipality until 1977 when it was merged with Beveren as part of the fusion of municipalities in Belgium.[6]
The Holy Cross church was first mentioned in 1183. In 1448, the church was redesigned into a three aisled Gothic church. The square tower was added between 1450 and 1455. The church was extended in 1877, and declared a monument in 1942.[4] [7]