Acquoy is famous as the birthplace of Cornelius Jansensius (Jansen), bishop of Ypres (=Ieper), whose theological views brought forth the movement called Jansenism.
A state councilor, he reorganized the army in the newly conquered Austrian Netherlands, and in 1720 took possession in the name of the Emperor of the fortified cities of Tournai, Ieper and Menen.
Nevertheless, he was made a lieutenant-general in the army of the Dutch Republic, and served as governor of the Barrier Fortress Ieper in the Austrian Netherlands in 1774.
Pertry would especially remember his début because when he was waiting in Ieper for his train to Bruges, some members of the Flemish National Union's Black Brigade passed by.