Dendermonde Attractions
Located on the right bank of the Schelde, which joins the Dender lies Dendermonde (French Termonde; mouth of the Dender). The town's prosperity, still apparent from the magnificent buildings, stems from the textile industry. A large number of interesting historical monuments and art treasures have been preserved from its long history.
The first building on this site at the mouth of the river was a castle in the 10th C. under the protection of which a small town developed and received its charter in 1233. Owing to its strategic position Dendermonde was fortified and often besieged, as in 1667 when the 50,000 soldiers of Louis XIV had to retreat when the townspeople opened the locks thereby flooding the land. Parts of the town were badly damaged in 1914 when it was captured by German troops.
The first building on this site at the mouth of the river was a castle in the 10th C. under the protection of which a small town developed and received its charter in 1233. Owing to its strategic position Dendermonde was fortified and often besieged, as in 1667 when the 50,000 soldiers of Louis XIV had to retreat when the townspeople opened the locks thereby flooding the land. Parts of the town were badly damaged in 1914 when it was captured by German troops.
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Jazz Festival
Every year at the beginning of September Dendermonde stages a busy international jazz festival.
Procession of the Bayard Steed
An unusual event is the procession of the Bayard steed with the four children of Haimon on its back. This takes place every ten years (next date: 2000).
Sint-Amands, Belgium
(Near Dendermonde)
Sint-Amands, 15km/9miles northeast of Dendermonde, is the birthplace of the great Flemish poet Emile Verhaeren (1855-1916). The town is situated on the Scheldt, which is 225m/738ft wide at this point and can be seen from the riverside promenade. The marble tombstone of the poet and his wife stands behind the church on the bank of the Scheldt.
