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.