Diksmuide
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is a small town located in the province of West Flanders. Its origins date back to the ninth century, when, near the Yser river, the Frankish settlement of Dicasmuth was founded, which in the twelfth century received city rights. Over the centuries Diksmuide has suffered repeatedly due to wars. Starting from the 15th century wars between the Netherlands, France, Spain and Austria, to the hecatomb of World War I.
16 October 1918 of the year began the fight against German troops. As a result of devastating attacks and bombings, Diksmuide met the same fate as Ieper, only the ruins remained from the city. In the year 1920, a tedious reconstruction and an attempt to restore the old appearance to the city began.
As for a small town, we find here some really interesting attractions, such as the church of St. Nicholas, the town hall, a small beguinage or the building of the former fish market. |
However, the greatest impression is made by places reminding about the nightmare of the First World War. Unusual museum of Ijzer, in which on 22 storeys were collected war exhibits, dark trenches of death, in which for several years lived and died Belgian soldiers and German war cemetery Vladslo.
Church of St. Nicholas
1089- Diksmuide becomes an independent parish.
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1144- the church of st. Nicholas was built.
1333- the Romanesque chapel is destroyed in a fire and a gothic hall church is built in its place. 1566- the treasures collected in the church survived the attacks of iconoclasts. |
1668- another church fire. The rebuilt church tower gets its present shape.
1919- reconstruction of the destroyed church. 1940- after heavy bombardment from the church of Saint Nicholas remain only walls. |
The present church is a reconstruction of a Gothic building with a decorative tower from the 17th century. Over the centuries, many wonderful works of art have been gathered in the church, such as the sacramentarium (1614), the baptismal font (1626), stalls, or the image painted by Jacob Jordaens (1644) as part of the main altar. Unfortunately, the treasures that managed to survive the times of Iconoclasts were destroyed during heavy bombing in the 1940 year. The great baptismal font is a copy of this created, in 1626 year by Jan van der Carre, for the parish church in Diksmuide.
Beguinage
In the 13th century, secular residents were isolated from the rest of society to live an independent life. They founded their own Beguinage on the swampy northern edge of Diksmuide. There was a chapel, infirmary and several houses. The card from the 1697 year was a code of conduct and presented details of the life of the closed community of beguines. The assembly managed the so-called mistress. Just after arriving at the Beguinage, Beguines made vows of chastity and obedience.
The inhabitants of the Beguinage took care of the sick, taught religion, and made lace. After the First World War, the Beguinage was completely rebuilt, based on old plans. Unfortunately, beguines disappeared. Today, Beguinage is owned by the De Lovie organization and is inhabited by people with intellectual disabilities.
History of Diksmuide during the First World War
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Ijzer museum |
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The original tower was built in the year 1930 as a war memorial dedicated to the soldiers who died on the West-Flemish front during the First World War. For many years the tower was considered a symbol of Flemish nationalists. In 1946, it was blown up in unexplained circumstances.
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In the 1965 year, after 13 years, the construction of a new, magnificent monument was completed. The 84-meters tower, which is the highest monument of peace in Europe, houses an interesting museum (Wars, Peace, Flemish emancipation). Many war exhibits, such as weapons or uniforms, were gathered on the 22 floors. Historical photos show the suffering of soldiers and civilians. Visiting the museum begins with entering the top of the building. From its terrace there is a wonderful view of the whole region from Nieuwpoort to Passchendaele, Ypres, Poperinge and Ploegsteert.
The tower situated next to the Yser River in Diksmuide is decorated with the letters AVV-VVK (All for Flanders-Flanders for Christ), in front of the entrance is the inscription No more war. The museum's motto is: What's left of life ?. What's left of the country?
The tower situated next to the Yser River in Diksmuide is decorated with the letters AVV-VVK (All for Flanders-Flanders for Christ), in front of the entrance is the inscription No more war. The museum's motto is: What's left of life ?. What's left of the country?
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ADDRESS:
IJzerdijk 49 , 8600 Diksmuide |
TICKET PRICE:
8 Euro |
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, 01 / 02 January + 3 weeks after Christmas.
Last entry one hour before closing time.
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, 01 / 02 January + 3 weeks after Christmas.
Last entry one hour before closing time.
1914-1918 THE TRENCHES OF THE DEATH
This is a special place, reminiscent of the hecatomb of the First World War, which Diksmuide experienced in a special way. The city, which was on the front line, was, like Ieper, almost completely destroyed by the German army.
Existing trenches of death located along the Ijzer River, only 100 meters from the enemy trenches, are the last surviving part of the system of fortifications from the First World War.
Today, these several hundred meters of fortifications remind us of the horrors of war, hardened hundred-year-old sacks of sand, securing narrow trenches, marking the place where Belgian soldiers lived and died for four years.
Existing trenches of death located along the Ijzer River, only 100 meters from the enemy trenches, are the last surviving part of the system of fortifications from the First World War.
Today, these several hundred meters of fortifications remind us of the horrors of war, hardened hundred-year-old sacks of sand, securing narrow trenches, marking the place where Belgian soldiers lived and died for four years.
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ADDRESS:
Dodengang, Ijzerdijk 65 TICKET PRICE: 4 Euro
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OPENING HOURS:
1 April-15 November 10.00-18.00 16 November-31 March, Tuesdays and Thursdays 9.30-16.00 Last entry half an hour before closing time |
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German cemetery
martial Vladslo |
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located about three kilometers from the village of Vladslo, near Diksmuide in Belgium, is the resting place of German soldiers who died in the First World War.
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"Graves of soldiers are the greatest preachers of peace"
Albert Schweitzer laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize
Albert Schweitzer laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize
At the end of the First World War in Belgium there were 678 German military cemeteries, on which 134 thousands of fallen German soldiers were buried. In the 1925 year, the number of cemeteries was reduced to 128 so that ultimately, under an international agreement, four cemeteries could be created in cities: Hooglede (8246 fallen soldiers), Langemark (44.249 killed, including 25 thousands in a mass grave) , Menen (47.864 fallen) and Vladslo (25.645 buried).
The cemetery Vladslo, like other German cemeteries, clearly contrasts with English and American cemeteries. There is no pride in heroes, lofty slogans, you can see that it is a cemetery of the defeated. Dark stone slabs with engraved names, surnames, military ranks and dates of death of twenty soldiers on each one.
In addition, the gloomy mood is compounded by the sculpture of the Grieving Parents created by Käthe Kollwitz, the famous German sculptor, whose youngest son Peter was killed near Diksmuide 23 October 1914 of the year. This sculpture symbolizes the pain and suffering of all parents who lost their children in the war. In one of the graves opposite the monument, Peter Kollwitz was buried.
Near the cemetery is the Käthe Kollwitz museum, 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, her suffering after the death of her beloved son, pacifism, which manifested in her works created in Germany in the 1930s and 1940s. In the year 1942 Käthe's grandson, Peter was killed on the Russian front, she herself died on 22 April 1945 year, not seeing the end of the war she hated so much.
In addition, the gloomy mood is compounded by the sculpture of the Grieving Parents created by Käthe Kollwitz, the famous German sculptor, whose youngest son Peter was killed near Diksmuide 23 October 1914 of the year. This sculpture symbolizes the pain and suffering of all parents who lost their children in the war. In one of the graves opposite the monument, Peter Kollwitz was buried.
Near the cemetery is the Käthe Kollwitz museum, 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, her suffering after the death of her beloved son, pacifism, which manifested in her works created in Germany in the 1930s and 1940s. In the year 1942 Käthe's grandson, Peter was killed on the Russian front, she herself died on 22 April 1945 year, not seeing the end of the war she hated so much.