Damme

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Damme is a town in West Flanders, Belgium ( January 1, 2012 level ) with 10,844 residents. She pulls the center of the village, many tourists when visiting Bruges and the Belgian North Sea coast as a tourist destination.

Structure

Boroughs of Damme are: Damme himself, Hoeke, Lapscheure, Moerkerke, Oostkerke and Suisele ( Suisele and associated district Rostune ( Rostuyne ) are among the oldest fief of the Count of Flanders ).

History

From the mid-11th century, the Wadden Sea silted increasingly ago Bruges and the place thus lost direct access to the sea. After a flood in the early 12th century, a dike was built. Behind the Dwarsdam the place that was provided in 1169 with city rights arose. In the Middle Ages Damme was at times the outer harbor of Bruges. On July 3, 1468 in Damme married the Duke of Burgundy, Charles the Bold and Margaret of York. How Bruges Damme lost by the silting up of the bay Zwin towards the end of the Middle Ages in importance. The writer Charles de Coster made ​​in the 19th century La Légende de Thyl Ulenspiegel (see also Till Eulenspiegel ) play in Damme, what was the basis for that Damme today presented as the book village. Next to restaurants and hotels, there are numerous bookshops and regular book market.

Attractions

The center of the village is the gothic town hall from the year in 1468. Previously, there was stock and market hall.

In the forecourt there is a monument to the poet Jacob van Maerlant.

Dates from the year 1225, the large Gothic Onze Lieve Vrouwkerk

With its eight antique shops of the place will also attract visitors to the village than books.

Twinning

• Damme ( Germany ), since 1986