Diksmuide
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Diksmuide (Dixmude in French) is city and municipality in the province of West Flanders, Flemish Region, Belgium. The municipality comprises the city of Diksmuide proper and the villages of Beerst, Esen, Kaaskerke, Keiem, Lampernisse, Leke, Nieuwkapelle, Oostkerke, Oudekapelle, Pervijze, Sint-Jacobs-Kapelle, Stuivekenskerke, Vladslo and Woumen. On 1 January 2005 it had a total population of 15,636. The total area is 149.4 km², giving a population density of 104.66 inhabitants per km². It is a twin town of Ellesmere in the UK.
The major economical assets are agriculture and farming, known for the butter of Diksmuide.
Notable buildings
- Belfry, one of the Belfries of Belgium and France that are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage
- City Hall
- Saint Nicolas Church
Marked by World War I
Diksmuide stands on the river Yser (IJzer in Dutch), which was a front line throughout the First World War. It was first attacked on October 16 1914, at the beginning of the Battle of the Yser. By the time the fighting ended, the town had been reduced to rubble and it was completely rebuilt in the 1920s.The Trench Of Death (Dodengang in Dutch), about 1.5 km out of Diksmuide center, preserves the setting where soldiers fought and struggled under most perillous conditions until the finally glorious offensive of September 28 1918.
In remembrance of the Flemish participation in the War a peace monument, the IJzertoren was built. It is the scene of the yearly IJzerbedevaart, at the same time a celebration of peace and a demonstration for Flemish political autonomy. It has often been associated with neo-nazi meetings; the more radical faction now organizes the IJzerwake.
External link
- [Official website] in Dutch
| West Flanders | |
| Bruges: Beernem | Blankenberge | Bruges/Brugge | Damme | Jabbeke | Knokke-Heist | Oostkamp | Torhout | Zedelgem | Zuienkerke | |
| Diksmuide: Diksmuide | Houthulst | Koekelare | Kortemark | Lo-Reninge | |
| Kortrijk: Anzegem | Avelgem | Deerlijk | Harelbeke | Kortrijk/Courtrai | Kuurne | Lendelede | Menen | Spiere-Helkijn | Waregem | Wevelgem | Zwevegem | |
| Ostend: Bredene | De Haan | Gistel | Ichtegem | Middelkerke | Oostende/Ostend | Oudenburg | |
| Roeselare: Hooglede | Ingelmunster | Izegem | Ledegem | Lichtervelde | Moorslede | Roeselare | Staden | |
| Tielt: Ardooie | Dentergem | Meulebeke | Oostrozebeke | Pittem | Ruiselede | Tielt | Wielsbeke | Wingene | |
| Veurne: Alveringem | De Panne | Koksijde | Nieuwpoort | Veurne | |
| Ypres: Heuvelland | Ieper/Ypres | Langemark-Poelkapelle | Mesen | Poperinge | Vleteren | Wervik | Zonnebeke | |
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