Pompoenengenootschap Kasterlee

25th anniversary of Pompoenengenootschap Kasterlee

Monday April 20th, 2026Monday April 20th, 2026webmaster

This year the Pompoenengenootschap Kasterlee is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Time to celebrate this in style. On Saturday April 18th, all growers, former growers, and supporters were invited to a big party at De Pit in Kasterlee.

In addition to good food and drinks, a mini-talk show provided further insight into the origins of pumpkins in Kasterlee and the Pompoenengenootschap itself. Those curious for more details could find additional information and photos at the exhibition (which currently moved temporary to the public library in Kasterlee).

Mieke Emmerig, the village poet, did a wonderful job tying everything together. Finally, also “Moutje” the giantess was introduced.

Talking about a fantastic and filled afternoon/evening… See and experience it yourself:

Information evening 2026

Friday February 20th, 2026Saturday February 21st, 2026webmaster

Also in 2026 we organized another information evening on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Jan Biermans and Dave D’Haese (guest speaker via DCM) had the audience hanging on their every word. In summary:

There were a lot of visitors, both from Kasterlee and outside
Fungi are very important for root formation.
Jan mentioned which seeds could produce a world champion, nice to know: Herman Boonen’s seed has everything to grow a world champion.

For photos, click here.

Pumpkin Regatta 2025

Monday October 27th, 2025Sunday November 2nd, 2025webmaster

On Sunday October 26th, the 16th edition of the Pumpkin Regatta in Kasterlee (domain Ark Van Noë) was organized. 114 teams concoured the cold water and tried to get a clumsy pumpkin moving using paddles.

Prizes awarded were for the top three time, but also the best-dressed team was honored.

You can find many photos of this successful edition over here (also check the ones of Paul Van Pelt):

Pumpkin Market 2025

Monday October 20th, 2025Monday October 20th, 2025webmaster

They did it again, Herman Boonen and Luc Vanheuckelom! They claimed the top 4 with following weights:

– Herman Boonen: 1014,7kg
– Herman Boonen: 996,7kg
– Luc Vanheuckelom: 850,8kg
– Luc Vanheuckelom: 814,1kg

Jan De Roye secured the fifth place.

For us it couldn’t be better, as the photos show: Read more →

GPC Belgian Pumpkin weigh-off Championship 2025

Saturday October 4th, 2025Sunday October 5th, 2025webmaster

On Saturday October 4th the GPC Belgian Pumpkin Weighing Championship 2025 was organized again. Not only giant pumpkins were weighted, also squashes, marrows, bushel gourds, field pumpkins, tomatoes, and even watermelons. Finally, the longest long gourds in Belgium were also measured.

Members of the Pompoenengenootschap Kasterlee won in following categories:

Herman Boonen, Giant Pumpkin: 1015,5kg
Luc Berrens, Squash: 684,5kg
Luc Berrens, Field Pumpkin: 57,5kg
Sus Noyens, Long Gourd: 2m59
Luc Berrens, Tomato: 1,15kg
Luc Berrens, Water melon: 41,5kg

All results can be found over here: Result Belgian weigh-off 2025

Some pictures of the weigh-off:

2nd patch tour and BBQ

Sunday August 31st, 2025webmaster

Yearly on the last Saturday of August you’ll see pumpkin growers from Kasterlee riding their bikes, traveling from pumpkin to pumpkin. In 2025, a few growers from Lommel and Jan Van Rompaey joined them.

In addition to the many beautiful gardens, large tomatoes, gourds, peppers, etc., the main goal of the day was, of course, the giant pumpkins. Will 2025 be the year of truth and will we set a world record? We will find out at the beginning of October.

In the meantime, you can enjoy our photos:

Pumpkin Regatta 2024

Thursday October 31st, 2024Saturday November 2nd, 2024webmaster

92 teams were ready for the 15th edition of the Pumpkin Regatta in Kasterlee on October 27, 2024. They braved the cold water to sail in a pumpkin.

Goal of the day: get the fastest time or be the one best dressed up.

A lot of visitors managed to find their way to the Ark Van Noë, where the sun provided beautiful images and extra warmth.

More pictures giving you a glimpse of the atmosphere can be found here (click further). Also check out the pictures taken by Stef De Boeck

Pumpkin Market 2024

Monday October 21st, 2024Monday October 21st, 2024webmaster

Early in the morning the first visitors of the Pumpkin Market in Kasterlee arrived. It was the start of a very successful Pumpkin Market, with a lot of visitors.

Besides pumpkins, pumpkin beer, pumpkin fries and much more pumpkin stuff, also some craftman were present. And of course, some local associations could not be missing.

Around 5pm, the party really started, when Mario Vangeel, Herman Boonen and Luc Vanheuckelom made sure the 3 heaviest pumpkins were pumpkins grown in Kasterlee. Their pumpkins weighed 1150kg, 932.5kg and 822kg respectively.

And that it was good, check out the photos:

EK Pumpkin Weigh-off Ludwigsburg 2024

Friday October 18th, 2024webmaster

After the GPC Belgian Weigh-off, the European Weigh-off in Ludwigsburg is organized. Mario Vangeel also took his Giant to Ludwigsburg and took the 1st place with a pumpkin of 1152kg.

Counting down to the pumpkin market in Kasterlee now.

Some photos from the Weigh-off in Ludwigsburg:

GPC Belgian Weigh-off 2024

Sunday October 6th, 2024Sunday October 6th, 2024webmaster

Growers of East Flanders, West Flanders, Flemish Brabant, Limburg and Antwerp came to Kasterlee on Saturday October 5th 2024. Their goal: have their Giant Pumpkin, Squash, Marrow, Long Gourd, Field Pumpkin or Tomato weighed and take the honor of the heaviest.

Looking at the Squashes, Jens Segaert managed to leave the competition behind with a weight of 826kg, followed by Pieter Vrijs with 482kg and Johan De Wever with 391.5kg.

In the giant pumpkins there was more excitement: Mario Vangeel already informed the press with his throw for the world record, while Paul Boonen also managed to deliver quite a big one. Unfortunately, Paul’s 1035.5kg pumpkin turned out to be Damaged and did not count in the rankings.

The scales stopped for Mario’s pumpkin at 1160kg, again a personal record. Herman Boonen and Jan Biermans ended 2nd and 3rd, with 942.5kg and 901kg respectively.

Take a look at the pictures, as Marrows, Long Gourds and Field Pumpkins were also measured and weighed.