Oudenaarde (French Audenarde), in the south of East Flanders where the Flemish Ardennes give way to the coastal moor land (geest) and which is traversed by the Scheldt, is a quiet township which possesses a considerable textile industry. For art lovers Oudenaarde is, after Ghent and Tournai, of the greatest interest because of its impressive buildings in the Scheldt Gothic style and its magnificent town hall. The town was once famous for its wall tapestries, the so-called Verduren, which differed by the coloring of their floral motifs from examples in Brussels where pictorial motifs were preferred.
Oudenaarde is the birthplace of Margarethe of Parma, the Stadholder of the Spanish Netherlands from 1559-1567, and of the painter Adriaan Brouwer (1605-1638) in whose honor an annual festival is celebrated.
Oudenaarde was first mentioned in the 11th C. when Count Balduin of Flanders built a fortress here. Around this a linen-weavers' town developed which, in the 13th C., was besieged and attacked on several occasions by the men of Ghent. After the decline of the linen industry in the 15th C. the people of Oudenaarde turned to the production of their celebrated Verduren which continued for some 300 years. Meanwhile Oudenaarde several times suffered destruction and siege during the quarrels of the Flemish towns, the Dutch War of Liberation and the campaigns of conquest of Louis XIV. Oudenaarde intervened conclusively in history in the battle of July 11, 1708 when troops of the Duke of Marlborough, supported by Prince Eugen, defeated the French under the Duke of Vendôme and the Duke of Bourgogne in the Spanish War of Succession.
Behind the church stands the Bishop's Palace built about 1600, one of the finest Renaissance buildings in Belgium. The main part, however, dates from 1722 and is also furnished with beautiful Oudenaarde tapestries.
Leaving the market along Burgstraat in the direction of the Scheldt we come to the Béguinage which dates from 1367. The original buildings however were destroyed by the Iconoclasts. The 32 cottages which are here today were built in the 17th C.
In the Late-Gothic house nearby the Vleeshuis it is said that Margaretha van Palma was born. Immediately adjacent arises the Boudewijntoren dating from the 12th C., probably a remnant of the town fortifications.
From Oudenaarde 8km/5miles northwest lies Kruishoutem with a museum which was the gift of Veranneman and contains an important collection of modern art, including works by Permeke, Vasarely and Niki de Saint-Phall. Here also can be seen a little 17th C. castle in the middle of a large park.
The Huis de Laiaing is a 17th century, Roccoco dwelling that acts as a textile centre and museum. As well as an exhibition of works by Oudenaarde artists, it houses a wall-hangings workshop where the production of Verdüren is taught. Old tapestries are restored here before being displayed in the Lakenhalle (Clothmaker's Hall) in the town hall.
The Park Liedts is reached by recrossing the Scheldt and continuing north past the post office. In the middle of the park stands the Liedtskasteel built in 1883 in neo-Renaissance style. The four rooms contain the Folk Art Museum.
In 1232 Cistercians settled on the right bank of the Scheldt and soon their community became one of the richest in Flanders. As time went on the convent buildings were destroyed on several occasions and rebuilt; the present building dates from the 17th and 18th C. and only the Gothic chapel has survived the storms.
The market, which is surrounded by an impressive ensemble of historic buildings, is the center of the life of the town. The most striking edifice is the Stadhuis in front of which can be seen a fountain adorned with dolphins, a present from Louis XIV in 1671.
Returning to the market we see on the right the former Vleeshuis. The first meat-hall was built in 1338, a new building followed in 1584 and the present neo-Classical building, which now houses the town library, in 1779.
Lying 7km/4.5miles east of Oudenaarde is Waregem, known for its annual equestrian jumping championship. The local museum has some works by well-known Belgian artists.
By the churchyard of Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-van-Pamele stands the Zwartsuisterhuis, once the house of the black sisters who devoted their lives to looking after the sick. After the destruction of the old building by the French it was restored in the 17th C.
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Kruishoutem, Belgium
