Aardenburg

Aardenburg is one of the oldest towns of Flanders (or should we say the Netherlands?).  Aardenburg is situated in the Netherlands (Zeeuws-Vlaanderen), just as Sluis, at merely a few km from the Belgian border.  The first habitation already was here in the Stone Age (around 5500 BC).  Remains out of that period, the Roman period and the Middle Ages can be seen in the town's museum.
 

In the centre, a reconstruction has been made of the foundations of the Roman castellum that stood here between 170 and 273.  Aardenburg was then called Rodanum Castra, which became Rodanburg lateron and eventually became Aardenburg.  In the year 273, barbarians attack the town and the Romans leave the region.  Only around the 8th century Aardenburg got inhabited again.  On the picture you can clearly see the foundations of the left tower of the entrygate.  For the full reconstruction, we advise you to go and see with your own eyes.

In 1299, the count of Flanders, Guy de Dampierre, ordered to strenghten the town with walls.  Access to the center was possible via 4 gates.  Of these gates, only the Westgate (or also called Kaaipoort) still stands.  This gate stands on where used to be the quay of the harbour.  There no longer is water in the port, but still its outlines are visible.  The Kaaipoort got his present looks in 1650.  The town walls could however not prevent troops from Ghent from capturing the town in 1383. After having chased away the Spaniards in 1604, prince Maurits arranged for the town walls to be strengthened.

Aardenburg has two churches: one for the catholics and one for the protestants.  St.-Baafschurch was founded in 959 by monks of the St.-Baafsabbey of Ghent.  The, initially romanesque church, was rebuilt lateron in gothic style.  The upper part of the tower and the bells date back to the middle of the 17th century.  This, originally catholic, church became protestant in 1578.  This one was however not the largest church in the town, that was the Mariachurch.  This building was torn down in 1625 when a new defence line was constructed around the town.  The present catholic church was built in the middle of the 19th century.

In the Middle Ages, Aardenburg became a real pilgrimage place after some miracles took place.  Several famous people came here to worship Maria: king Philips of France, count of Flanders Guy de Dampierre, duke Philips the Good, kings Edward I, III and IV.

Not to be forgotten: in the port are 4 known "citizens" of Aardenburg: the water spurting frogs of the frogfountain.  This fountain was placed in 1974 and the frogs represent Aardenburg, Draaibrug, Sint-Kruis and Eede.  In 1830, Aardenburg was temporarily occupied by the Belgians.

Worth seeing: historic center with town hall, market square, kiosk, 2 churches, Westgate, historic houses, foundations of Roman Castellum, heritage museum