Diksmuide
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is a small town located in the province of West Flanders. Its origins date back to the 9th century, when the Frankish settlement of Dicasmutha was founded near the Yser River and received city rights in the 12th century. Over the centuries, Diksmuide has suffered many wars. Starting from the 15th-century wars between the Netherlands, France, Spain and Austria, to the hecatomb of World War I.
On October 16, 1918, fighting with German troops began. As a result of devastating attacks and bombings, Diksmuide suffered the same fate as Ieper, with only ruins remaining of the city. In 1920, a painstaking reconstruction began, attempting to restore the city to its former appearance.
For a small town, there are some really interesting attractions here, such as the Church of St. Nicholas, the town hall, a small beguinage, and the building of the former fish market. |
However, the most impressive places are those that remind us of about the nightmare of World War I. The extraordinary Ijzer Museum, which houses 22 floors of war exhibits, the dark trenches of death where Belgian soldiers lived and died for several years, and the German war cemetery Vladslo.
CHURCH OF ST. Nicholas
1089- Diksmuide becomes an independent parish.
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1144- the church of St. is built Nicholas.
1333- the Romanesque chapel is destroyed in a fire, in her place a Gothic hall church is built. 1566 - the treasures collected in the church survived the attacks iconoclasts. |
1668- another fire in the church. Rebuilt tower the church acquires its current shape.
1919- reconstruction of the destroyed church. 1940- after heavy bombardment from the church of St. Nicholas, only the walls remain. |
The current church is a reconstruction of a Gothic building with an ornate tower from the 17th century. Over the centuries, the church has housed many magnificent works of art, such as the sacramentarium (1614), the baptismal font (1626), the choir stalls, and the painting by Jacob Jordaens (1644), which is part of the main altar. Unfortunately, the treasures that managed to survive the Iconoclast era were destroyed during heavy bombing in 1940. The magnificent baptismal font is a copy of the one created in 1626 by Jan van der Carre for the parish church in Diksmuide.
Beginning
In the 13th century, lay women isolated themselves from the rest of society to lead independent lives. They established their own beguinage on the marshy northern edge of Diksmuide. There was a chapel, an infirmary (sick room) and several residential houses. The 1697 charter constituted a code of conduct and presented details of the life of the closed community of beguines. The assembly was led by the so-called mistress. Immediately upon arriving at the Beguinage, the Beguines took vows of chastity and obedience.
The women living in the Beguinage cared for the sick, taught religion, and made lace. After World War I, the Beguinage was completely rebuilt, based on old plans. Unfortunately, the beguines have disappeared. Today the Beguinage is owned by the De Lovie organization and is inhabited by people with mental disabilities.
The history of Diksmuide during World War I
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Ijzer Museum |
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The original tower was built in 1930 as a war memorial dedicated to soldiers who died on the West Flemish Front during World War I. For many years the tower was considered a symbol of Flemish nationalists. In 1946 it was blown up in mysterious circumstances. into the air.
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In 1965, after 13 years, construction of a magnificent new monument was completed. The 84-meter tower, the tallest peace monument in Europe, houses an interesting museum (War, Peace, Flemish Emancipation). Many war exhibits, such as weapons and uniforms, are collected on 22 floors. Historical photos show the suffering of soldiers and civilians. The museum tour begins with a ride to the top of the building. From its terrace there is a magnificent view over the entire region from Nieuwpoort to Passchendaele, Ypres, Poperinge and Ploegsteert.
Tower situated along the Yser River in Diksmuide, it is decorated with the letters AVV-VVK (All for Flanders-Flanders for Christ), in front of the entrance there is an inscription No more War. The museum's motto is: What is left of life? What is left of the Country?
Tower situated along the Yser River in Diksmuide, it is decorated with the letters AVV-VVK (All for Flanders-Flanders for Christ), in front of the entrance there is an inscription No more War. The museum's motto is: What is left of life? What is left of the Country?
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ADDRESS:
IJzerdijk 49 , 8600 Diksmuide |
FARE:
8 Euros |
OPENING HOURS:
January-February-March-October-November-December: from 9:00 to 17:00
(Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: from 10:00 to 17:00)
April-May-June-July-August-September: from 9:00 to 18:00
(Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: from 10:00 to 18:00)
Closed on 24/25/31/31 December, January 1/2 + 3 weeks after Christmas.
Last entry one hour before closing.
January-February-March-October-November-December: from 9:00 to 17:00
(Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: from 10:00 to 17:00)
April-May-June-July-August-September: from 9:00 to 18:00
(Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: from 10:00 to 18:00)
Closed on 24/25/31/31 December, January 1/2 + 3 weeks after Christmas.
Last entry one hour before closing.
1914-1918 Trenches of Death
This is a special place, reminding us of the hecatomb of World War I, which hit Diksmuide in a special way. The city, which found itself on the front line, was, like Ypres, almost completely destroyed by German troops.
The trenches of death, which still exist today and are situated along the Ijzer River, just 100 meters from the enemy trenches, are the last surviving part of the fortification system from World War I.
Today, these several hundred meters of fortifications are a reminder of the horrors of war; century-old sandbags, hardened to stone and securing narrow trenches, marked the place where Belgian soldiers lived and died for four years.
The trenches of death, which still exist today and are situated along the Ijzer River, just 100 meters from the enemy trenches, are the last surviving part of the fortification system from World War I.
Today, these several hundred meters of fortifications are a reminder of the horrors of war; century-old sandbags, hardened to stone and securing narrow trenches, marked the place where Belgian soldiers lived and died for four years.
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ADDRESS:
Dodengang, Ijzerdijk 65 FARE: 4 euros
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OPENING HOURS:
April 1-November 15, 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. November 16-March 31, Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30-16:00 Last entry half an hour before closing |
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German cemetery
war Vladslo |
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located about three kilometers from the town of Vladslo, near Diksmuide in Belgium, is the resting place of German soldiers who died in World War I.
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"Soldiers' graves are the greatest preachers of peace"
Albert Schweitzer, Nobel Peace Prize winner
Albert Schweitzer, Nobel Peace Prize winner
At the end of World War I, there were 678 German military cemeteries in Belgium, where 134,000 fallen German soldiers were buried. In 1925, the number of cemeteries was reduced to 128, and finally, pursuant to an international agreement, four cemeteries were established in the towns of Hooglede (8,246 fallen soldiers), Langemark (44,249 fallen, including 25,000 in a mass grave), Menen (47,864 fallen) and Vladslo (25,645 buried).
Cemetery Vladslo, like other German cemeteries, contrasts clearly with English and American cemeteries. There is no pride in heroes, no lofty slogans; it is clear that this is a cemetery of the defeated. Dark stone slabs, each engraved with the names, surnames, military ranks and dates of death of twenty soldiers.
The gloomy mood is further enhanced by the sculpture of sad parents by Käthe Kollwitz famous German sculptor whose youngest son Peter was killed nearby Diksmuide October 23, 1914. This sculpture symbolizes the pain and suffering of all parents who lost their children in the war. Peter was buried in one of the graves opposite the monument. Kollwitz.
There is a museum near the cemetery Käthe Kollwitz, telling the story of her son Peter, a young soldier who died a few days after arriving in Diksmuide. There is also a story about Käthe, the famous German sculptor, about her suffering after the death of her beloved son, and the pacifism that manifested itself in her works created in Germany in the 1930s and 1940s. In 1942, the grandson Käthe, Peter fell on the Russian front, she herself died on April 22, 1945, without seeing the end of the war she hated so much.
The gloomy mood is further enhanced by the sculpture of sad parents by Käthe Kollwitz famous German sculptor whose youngest son Peter was killed nearby Diksmuide October 23, 1914. This sculpture symbolizes the pain and suffering of all parents who lost their children in the war. Peter was buried in one of the graves opposite the monument. Kollwitz.
There is a museum near the cemetery Käthe Kollwitz, telling the story of her son Peter, a young soldier who died a few days after arriving in Diksmuide. There is also a story about Käthe, the famous German sculptor, about her suffering after the death of her beloved son, and the pacifism that manifested itself in her works created in Germany in the 1930s and 1940s. In 1942, the grandson Käthe, Peter fell on the Russian front, she herself died on April 22, 1945, without seeing the end of the war she hated so much.