The Province of West Flanders launched the ‘DNA van het dorp’ initiative to encourage villages to create a shared vision for their future. The city council of Gistel applied this approach to the village of Zevekote, aiming to develop a vision through participation, exploration, and research, with a focus on redeveloping the monastery site at the heart of the village. We embraced a bottom-up, co-creative approach that prioritized strengthening the social fabric. Through listening sessions and interviews with residents and stakeholders, we uncovered the “DNA” of Zevekote, which helped shape the direction of the master plan. During a “village snapshot” session, residents, local authorities, experts, and civil society collaborated to lay the groundwork for the future vision, addressing the redevelopment of the monastery site, mobility within and around the village, and climate-resilient water management in both the village and surrounding polder areas.

Through design research, expert consultations, and a second “village clap” session, this vision was further refined and translated into a comprehensive master plan. The plan includes concrete scenarios for the monastery site and an action plan for improving mobility and sustainable water management. This master plan now serves as a foundation for the Gistel city council to implement these future-oriented strategies.