Discover Dendermonde: Belfry, Water and City History

Dendermonde combines impressive architecture, a vibrant urban history and a variety of opportunities for active days. Those looking to combine culture, exercise and water on a trip will find several different ways to do so here. When choosing your holiday apartment, you can therefore consider whether you would like to focus on historical discoveries, cycling tours or experiences on the Oude Dender.

City History and Striking Buildings

The Stadhuis is a jewel of medieval Flemish architecture. The Belfry also shapes the city’s cultural character: it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 and has a carillon with 49 bells. This makes it a special starting point for anyone who wants to do more on a trip than simply look at squares, and would also like to learn about the historical significance of individual buildings.

At the Vleeshuis City Museum, an almost intact mammoth skeleton approximately 28,000 years old reveals a completely different era. The museum also preserves relics of local guild life and processions. This allows you to incorporate medieval architecture, very early human history and local traditions into your travel plans without having to dedicate the entire day to a single theme.

The Sint-Alexius Beguinage was founded in 1288. It is a typical square-shaped beguinage with a trapezoidal courtyard and today comprises 61 houses and a church. The Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk is an example of Scheldt Gothic architecture. It contains a Romanesque baptismal font made of Tournai stone dating from the 11th century. Anyone interested in church art and historic forms of housing will find specific details here that make a visit to the city particularly vivid.

Biotopes, Water and Trails

Nature enthusiasts can examine around 20 different biotopes up close at Bastion VIII without harming the environment. For a more active change of perspective, the Oude Dender in the city centre offers the opportunity to rent kayaks and go stand-up paddleboarding. These two experiences suit different kinds of day plans: one involves close observation of habitats, while the other involves travelling on the water.

Dendermonde can also be explored on foot and by bicycle. The Dendermonde city walk begins at the Grote Markt in Dendermonde. The “Dendermonde op zijn vest” route focuses on the struggle for and life in the fortified city of Dendermonde; an information brochure and information panels accompany these themes. The brochure is available at the Visit Dendermonde visitor centre or can be downloaded from the route page.

There are 75 kilometres of cycle paths available for cycling tours. The Dendermonde cycling route also begins at the Grote Markt in Dendermonde. Depending on your energy levels, you can therefore choose between a walk through cultural history and a longer exploration on two wheels. If several generations are travelling together or people have different interests, the stay can be planned with plenty of variety, without everyone having to follow the same daily itinerary.

Tradition and Travel Planning

An exceptional cultural highlight is the Ros Beiaardommegang. It has taken place every ten years since 1990 and is a major folkloric event with around 100,000 spectators, 2,000 participants, 200 horses and approximately 20 ceremonial floats. These figures convey the event’s remarkable scale; when planning your trip, you should check the relevant date separately.

Accommodation in Dendermonde can therefore serve as a base for very different kinds of holiday days: historic buildings and a museum, a city walk, a cycling route, biotopes or water sports. First decide which of these experiences should be the focus of your trip, then look for a holiday apartment or holiday home that suits your preferred travel rhythm.

More Places for Your Travel Ideas

For further orientation within the range of destinations, you can also visit the pages for Appels and Schoonaarde. Also available are Sint-Niklaas, Hoegaarden, Buggenhout, Zelzate, Leopoldsburg and Herzele.

For the overview of the wider travel region: East Flanders.