Dendermonde |
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is a Belgian city located in the province of East Flanders, on the river Dender, a tributary of Scheldt, which in 1233 was granted city rights. Prosperity developed here thanks to the flourishing cloth industry. This caused conflicts with stronger neighbors such as Ghent. Over the centuries, the city was conquered by the Spaniards, the French, allied forces of the Netherlands and England, and the Austrians. The First World War was catastrophic for the city, which lost half of its houses and archives due to bombing.
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Dendermonde has a charming market square with the town hall and Butcher's hall, the Church of the Virgin Mary, with two works of Anton Van Dyck, a Benedictine monastery, famous for the library in which the magnificent manuscript of Hildegard of Bingen, called the Code of Dendermonde, is stored. In the city you can also admire the magnificent Beguinage, located on the UNESCO World Heritage List, in which a great museum of Beguinage and folklore was placed.
1288 founding of Beguinage at St. Alexius
1975 - the death of Ernestine de Bruyne, the last beguine from Dendermonde
These two dates mark the beginning and end of the beguines community in this city. They are a clamp connecting VIII centuries of history of this extremely interesting religious community, cultivating Catholic faith, but completely independent of the Catholic Church.
Beguines living here maintained themselves, as in others Beguinage, including lace making, teaching and caring for the sick. They vowed chastity and obedience, but not poverty. In Beguinage lived around 200 beguines.
1998 - Beguinage is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List
Today Beguinage is inhabited by secular residents. There are 61 houses that surround a small church built in the middle. Despite being inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List Beguinage is not yet completely renovated. Dendermonde is a small city and due to lack of resources renewal is slow. While visiting the city, you cannot miss this place, a great witness to history. An extraordinary museum of Beguinage is located here.
Museum of Beguinage
It is located in the house of Ernestine de Bruyne, the last beguine from Dendermonde (No. 25 H. Begga). There is also a folklore museum in the same building. In numerous rooms, on three floors you can get to know the daily life of the inhabitants of Dendermonde. Building No. 11 (H. Bonifacius) was furnished just like an authentic beguines house. It is amazing that this interesting museum can be visited for free. It is worth getting here to learn about the history of the beguines congregation and to visit their home, which it was Beguinage.
Beguines living here maintained themselves, as in others Beguinage, including lace making, teaching and caring for the sick. They vowed chastity and obedience, but not poverty. In Beguinage lived around 200 beguines.
1998 - Beguinage is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List
Today Beguinage is inhabited by secular residents. There are 61 houses that surround a small church built in the middle. Despite being inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List Beguinage is not yet completely renovated. Dendermonde is a small city and due to lack of resources renewal is slow. While visiting the city, you cannot miss this place, a great witness to history. An extraordinary museum of Beguinage is located here.
Museum of Beguinage
It is located in the house of Ernestine de Bruyne, the last beguine from Dendermonde (No. 25 H. Begga). There is also a folklore museum in the same building. In numerous rooms, on three floors you can get to know the daily life of the inhabitants of Dendermonde. Building No. 11 (H. Bonifacius) was furnished just like an authentic beguines house. It is amazing that this interesting museum can be visited for free. It is worth getting here to learn about the history of the beguines congregation and to visit their home, which it was Beguinage.
Town hall |
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in Dendermonde is a jewel of medieval Flemish architecture. Created in 1337, it was originally intended as a cloth hall, but it was finally decided that this beautiful stone building would become the town hall. In the Middle Ages, there was an arsenal and a city scale, on which all goods sold in the city were weighed. The city council had its meetings on the first floor.
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In 1377 a bell tower was built as a symbol of Dendermonde's power and independence. In September 1914, the bell tower spire, hit by an artillery shell, collapsed, and the town hall also burned down. After the war, destroyed buildings were rebuilt. In 1999, the belfry was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Today, it houses a carillon, consisting of 49 bells.
The town hall looks the most beautiful in the summer, decorated with flowers and eleven heraldic flags. Currently, it performs mainly ceremonial functions, on the first floor you can admire the collection of paintings by artists from the Dendermonde school. A tourist information office is on the ground floor. From 2018, you can also climb to the top of the bell tower, from which there is a beautiful view of the entire city.
The butcher's hall located on the market is one of the oldest buildings in Dendermonde. Established in 1460-1462. On the ground floor, butchers sold meat, and on the first floor, a seat was set up for the Citizens' Guard Guild of St. George. Today, the building houses the Vleeshuismuseum, which shows exhibits from the city's oldest history. Archaeological finds, old documents, a collection of weapons, exhibits from the procession with the legendary Bayard horse. The oldest exhibit is a mammoth, 28000 years old.
Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
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is a Gothic temple from the fourteenth to the fifteenth century, which houses many wonderful works of art, such as: paintings by Anthony van Dyck, Gaspard de Crayer, a magnificent carved pulpit, or a stylish high altar. The greatest treasure in the temple, however, is the magnificent Romanesque baptismal font, made in the 11th century from Tournai stone. Over the centuries, new elements were added to the temple, the wooden spire that burned down in 1940 was never rebuilt.
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Onze-Lieve-Vrouwkerkplein B- 9200 Dendermonde |
1/4-30/6 and 1/9-30/9 saturday, sunday, holidays: 14.00-16.45 |
1/7-31/8 tuesday-sunday: 14.00-16.45 monday closed |
Abbey of Saints Peter and Paul
The modern abbey was built in the style of the Flemish Neo-Renaissance, in place of the old abbey destroyed during World War I. In 1939, the abbey church was raised to the status of a basilica. The abbey library contains the manuscript of Hidegard from Bingen, called the Dendermonde Code. The abbey is open to visitors only once a year, on Pentecost, but anyone can buy beer and wine made here at the gate next to the church.
Church of Sint Egidius locally called Sint Gillis Binnen
The remains of the medieval church are a tower and an old choir. In the 18th century, naves were built, and the neo-Baroque facade dates from the 20th century. The interior of the white-painted church houses many sculptures, a beautiful pulpit, and interesting stained glass windows. On the adjacent square there is a monument commemorating the losses Dendermonde suffered as a result of the war.
The court building was built in the years 1923-1927 according to the design of architect Valentin Vaerwijck. It was established on the site of the old citadel of Lord Dendermonde. The building is decorated with an art deco sculpture. Aymon's four sons and their horse, Bayard, stand proudly on top of a fifty-meter high tower. The monument is the work of Ghent sculptor Oscar Sinia (1877-1965).