Dendermonde Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Dendermonde

Termonde (French)

Municipality

Town hall

Court building

Brussels Gate

Church of Saint Gertrude

Station building

Marketplace

Flag	Coat of arms

Dendermonde

Location in Belgium

Country

Flemish Community

Arrondissement

Dendermonde

Area

• Total

55.67 km² (21.49 sq mi)

Population

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• Total

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Postal codes

9200

Area codes

052

Website

www.dendermonde.be

Dendermonde is a city in the Flemish province of East Flanders in Belgium. It is located where the Dender river flows into the Scheldt river. The city includes Dendermonde itself and several smaller towns like Appels and Grembergen.

Dendermonde is an important center for administration, business, education, and healthcare in its area. The current mayor of Dendermonde is Leen Dierick. The city has a long-standing friendly rivalry with Aalst, another city along the Dender river. This rivalry dates back to the Middle Ages.

History of Dendermonde
Main Sights
Events
Sport
Notable People
Twin Cities
See also

History of Dendermonde

Early Times to the 15th Century

People have lived in the Dendermonde area since ancient times. Tools from the La Tène culture (around 450 BC to 50 BC) have been found here. Graves from the 2nd and 6th centuries also show that many people lived here during Gallo-Roman and Merovingian times.

In 843, the Treaty of Verdun placed Dendermonde in a region called Lotharingia. Later, in 883, Baldwin II took control of the area. He made it part of the new County of Flanders.

A fort was built in the 10th century, which helped more people settle in the area. Dendermonde officially became a city in 1233. It grew quickly because of its successful cloth industry. Many churches, chapels, and strong defensive walls were built. A cloth hall and a belfry (bell tower) were also built in the main market square in the mid-14th century.

However, the city's success led to competition with other powerful cities like Ghent. Dendermonde was sometimes attacked and robbed by its neighbors. In 1384, the whole area came under the rule of the dukes of Burgundy.

From the 16th to the 20th Century

Dendermonde on the Ferraris map (around 1775)

The 16th century was a difficult time for Dendermonde. In 1572, William the Silent captured the city. But in the same year, Spanish troops, led by Duke Alexander Farnese, took over. They looted and mostly destroyed the city. Ten years later, the Spanish built their own fortress between the Dender and Scheldt rivers.

In 1667, the French army, led by Louis XIV, tried to attack the city. But the defenders stopped them by opening the dikes and flooding the land around the city. The most damage happened in 1706, when allied troops from the Netherlands and England, led by the Duke of Marlborough, attacked.

After this, the Austrians fortified the city to protect it from more French attacks. After a final siege by Louis XV, the city finally had peace. Its defenses were removed a few decades later.

The late 18th century was a good time for Dendermonde. The Industrial Revolution brought new industries, like cotton production. After 1800, the city's port was improved, and the first railways were built. This helped other industries, such as oil, shoe, and leather factories, to grow in the city.

However, World War I brought disaster in September 1914. More than half of Dendermonde's buildings and its city archives were destroyed by bombs or fire.

The 21st Century

On August 19, 2006, 28 prisoners escaped from Dendermonde prison. Seven were caught quickly, and some others were later found in Italy and Russia. They escaped because the lock was old and rusty. They used their bed sheets to climb over a wall and then ran away.

Main Sights

Dendermonde has many interesting places to visit:

The central market square (Grote Markt) is the heart of the city.
The Town Hall holds a collection of art.
The Butcher's Hall (Dutch: Vleeshuismuseum) is a museum. It shows items from the region's history, from ancient times to today.
The Church of Our Lady (Dutch: Onze Lieve-Vrouwekerk) has two paintings by the famous artist Anthony van Dyck.
The béguinage is a special historical community. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.
The city hall and belfry (bell tower) are also a World Heritage Site since 1999. The belfry has a carillon (a musical instrument with bells). It used to be part of the old Cloth Hall.
The Dendermonde Abbey is a Benedictine monastery. It is famous for its library, which has an original manuscript by Hildegard of Bingen. This book is called the 'Dendermonde Codex'.
The Dendermonde-Puurs Steam Railway is a historic railway. It runs for about 14 kilometers (9 miles) from Dendermonde to Puurs.
The Jazz Center Flanders is an archive, documentation center, and museum dedicated to jazz music.

Dendermonde beguinage
Monumental building: het Vleeshuis
Market square with pubs and town hall
Brussels Gate
Tournai font in the Onze Lieve-Vrouwekerk
The Church of Our Lady (Onze Lieve-Vrouwekerk)

Events

Dendermonde is well-known for its special procession that happens every ten years. This event features the heroic horse, Ros Beiaard. According to legend, this horse saved its master and his three brothers from being captured by Charlemagne.

The city also has an annual parade of three Giants: Indian, Mars, and Goliath. These Giants are recognized by UNESCO as Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. This parade takes place on the last Thursday of August.