Oostkappelleveld, Boechout, nr Antwerp, Belgium. Reported 17th July
Updated Thursday 23rd July
Field Report
The first Belgian crop circle of this year
was discovered on July 17th in Boechout, a village south of Antwerp. The circles
were
reported by the farmer to the police on Friday 17th. It was however only recognised
as a pictogram on Sunday July 19th by a balloonist who flew over the field.
The pictogram consists of a dumb-bell, the northern circle of which is topped by
half an arch and three grapeshot circles, which
deviate a little from the main axis of the formation. The southern circle is the
biggest one with a diameter of 13 meters and is laid anti-clockwise. It is linked to
the second circle by an avenue of 8 meter long. The second circle has a diameter of
8,8 meters and is laid clockwise, as well as the three grapeshot circles. The whole
pictogram is 42,5 meters long. The pictogram must have been created some time
before it was discovered. It can not be seen from the road.
There are very strong indications that the Crop circle in Boechout is a cleverly
done hoax. There is a posthole of 14 centimetres deep right in the middle of the
biggest circle. Moreover, whoever made the pictogram relied heavily on the tramlines
for its construction. As the pictogram can only be seen from the air I presume it
was the circlemakers' intention for the pictogram to be discovered by an
amateur pilot of the nearby airport of Deurne, which is only 5 km to the north as
the crow flies.
It is however remarkable that the pictogram should appear in that particular field
as I have considered it for years to be one of the best candidates for a visit by
the CircleMakers. The field slopes very gently and the area always reminds me very
much of the area around Avebury and Alton Barnes although the countryside in
Boechout is nearly completely flat. It has however the same somewhat
mysterious quality.
Report by Ludwig De Vocht
