The monument devoted to the sighting of Flying Saucers in the hamlet of Lotenhulle in Aalter (East Flanders) has been removed. This happened at the request of the family of Marin Vandercruyssen, the paratrooper, who in 1955, along with other witnesses, spotted five disc-shaped flying saucers above the E40 motorway and later brought the matter to public attention. His family no longer wishes to be associated with this remarkable sighting.
It was on July 21, Belgium's national holiday, in 1955, that paratrooper Marin Vandercruyssen, who was 18 at the time, saw five large silver discs hovering silently above the E40 motorway that was then still designated as the E5. The sighting happened at Lotenhulle near Aalter. The discs formed a formation, with three at the front and two at the rear, resembling the Olympic movement’s logo. About 20 drivers stopped in the middle of the road and got out to watch this amazing sight.
It was not until 2004 that Marin came forward with his story and informed the Aalter local council. Councillors were initially skeptical, but after hearing other witnesses, accepted the story. A monument was erected along a local road. The text on the memorial stone mentioned the date of the sighting, the number of witnesses present, and names Marin Vandercruyssen. It also includes five oval symbols as well as a photo of the young paratrooper.
Restored this year
The monument was renovated as recently as July of this year but has now been removed. The Vandercruyssens, the family of the paratrooper, who died in 2020, no longer wanted to be associated with the sighting. They got a lawyer to send the local council a letter requesting the urgent removal the monument. Otherwise, they intended to launch a claim for damages.
The municipality did not wish to provide any further details but confirmed the family’s request and that it had been complied with. The monument was removed by municipal services last week. The monument was the only monument dedicated to flying saucers or Unidentified Flying Objects existent in Belgium.