Interesting places close to Damme

In the area

PIcture: the Market square in Bruges

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	In the area around Damme... With Damme as base, you can make beautiful trips to the surrounding villages and towns, each of them having their own character and things worth seeing. Something for everyone: enjoying the sun on the beach of Knokke, shopping in Sluis, museums in Bruges, taking the steamtrain in Maldegem,... There is more to these places than what is said in the stereotypes. And don't forget the little villages in Damme's neighboughood; many of them still maintained a lot of their original rural character. From the center of Damme, it will only take you a few minutes to get there. Below a list in alphabetical order.
	Aardenburg. Aardenburg is one of the oldest towns in Flanders (or should we say the Netherlands?). Aardenburg lays, just like Sluis, in the Netherlands (Zeeuws-Vlaanderen) but at a stone's throw from the border with Belgium. The first settlement appears to have been here as early as 5500 BC (Stone Age). Remnants from that period, the Roman era and the Middle Ages can be seen in the town's archeological museum. Worth seeing: the historic centre with the town hall, the market square, the kiosk, two churches, the old Westgate, several historical houses, the museum and foundations of the Roman Castellum. [have a look]
	Abbey Ter Doest. This abbey was founded as a branch of the abbey of "Ter Duynen" (Koksijde). The abbey posessed an extended number of acres of ground, was very rich and had several famous abbots. From the convent itself, not much is left anymore, except for the monumental barn and some more recent buildings. This barn is one of the largest remaining gothic barns in Flanders. Even to modern standards, it is huge. To get a real impression of this enormous structure you should see this with your own eyes. [have a look].
	Adegem. Adegem is part of Maldegem. The village is situated at some km from Damme's territory, but is worth mentioning, especially because of its old church. The settlement Adegem already exists longtime; it already was mentioned in the days of St.-Amandus (+/- 638 - 678). Worth seeing: the war museum, the Canadian War Cemetery, the gardens complex and the Saint-Adrian's Church. [have a look]
	Brugge/Bruges. Good wine doesn't need a crown. There is no place in Belgim where so many remains of Middle Ages can be found as in Bruges. The history of Damme has always been closely related to the history of Bruges. Together they knew their times of glory, which made them infamous all over the known world. But they also went down together when the Zwin silted up and seaships could no longer reach Bruges or one of her ports. On cultural level, Bruges is the touristic hotspot in Belgium and not without good reason! The complete, largely still medieval centre of the town is listed as Unesco cultural heritage. You can easily spend a few days in the charming, burgundic town of Bruges. [more info]
	Donk. Is a small, rural village, part of Maldegem. You immediately spot the nice little church next to the cobblestone street. A must is the rural museum "Smoefelbeekhoeve", where you can see old agricultural material, but next to that an impressive collection of oldtimer tractors and a rebuilt forge. [have a look]
	Dudzele. The remarkable thing about Dudzele is not that the village has a church but that it has two churchtowers. You don't need to be an archeologist to see that the solitary tower is the oldest one; it's in romanesque style and dates back to the 12th century. Worth seeing: the romanesque tower, some 17th century houses and old farms. [have a look]
	Fortress of Bavaria. This fortress was built as a result of the Spanish Succession war (1701 - 1714). It served as a protection for Bruges against possible attacks from the north. However, it was never attacked and honestly wasn't used for long. Once it lost it's military interest, the fortress was sold and converted into a castle park. The bastions, earthen walls and ditches in pentagonal shape are still visible and have become home to a specific fauna and flora. [more info]
	Knokke-Heist. Mondain Knokke is often referred to as the Monaco of the Belgian coast and not without good reason. Here you can find anything money can buy from expensive shops to exclusive villas. Heist is a lot more modest but not less attractive. The absolute highlight is the wide, fine sandy beach but there are certainly also other things worth seeing and doing such as the nature reserve "Zwin" and the Sincfala museum to name just a few. Versatility of this coastal town is probably its best asset. [more info]
	Koolkerke. The name "Coolkercke" was recorded for the first time in 1243, but the village did exist already a while before. On the highest place, the first church was built around 1150. The present church is a protected monument and dates from 1860, with parts from the 14th century. Worth seeing are the church, the presbytery, a number of old farms, the fortress of Bavaria and Castle "Ten Berghe". [have a look]
	Lissewege. Between Bruges and Zeebruges, not far from Dudzele lays a charming, tranquil village named Lissewege. Nowadays it is known as an artists village and is also nicknamed the white village, referring to the white-painted houses. Worth seeing ar the old centre, the Our Ladies Church, the abbey of Ter Doest, the barn of the abbey, the presbytery. [have a look]
	Maldegem. Maldegem is one of the largest communities in East-Flanders (in terms of surface). Untill the 13th century, the area was mainly covered with woods and swamps. From medio 14th century, annual markets (fairs) were held, a privilege given by count Louis from Male (see Male). In fact, there still is a weekly market. Worth seeing are the churh, the stately town hall and certainly the Steam Center. [have a look]
	Male. At a stone's throw from Sijsele lays the village of Male. Male used to be a part of Sijsele (one of the oldest settlements in the region), but is now a part of Bruges. Male has a small but very beautiful old centre with some old, charming farmhouses. The most important building in the village however is the monumental castle. As soon as the 9th century the first defensive tower was built here to protect the land against attacks from vikings. Worth seeing: castle (now abbey), centre of the village with several old farmhouses. [have a look]
	Middelburg. Barely a few kilometers from Den Hoorn, just on the other side of the provincial border with East-Flanders, lays Middelburg. This community is a part of Maldegem. It was built between 1452 and 1465 on the order of Pieter Bladelin, governor of finance of no other than Phillips the Good and treasurer of the Order of the Golden Fleece. Worth seeing: church, pelerin and museum. Unfortunately, the foundations of the castle of Middelburg cannot be seen anymore. The Bladelinmuseum makes up for that though. [have a look]
	Oedelem. South of Sijsele lays the village of Oedelem. This community is part of Beernem. The area of Oedelem has been inhabited for about 10.000 years, situated back then mainly in the hilly side of the region. Just like in Aardenburg, there also was Roman presence in Oedelem. Worth seeing is the market square with the nice communal house and the church. [have a look]
	Sint-Anna-ter-Muiden. Situated practically on the border between the Netherlands and Belgium is the very picturesque village of Sint-Anna-ter-Muiden. "Mude", as it was called back then, was founded around 1200, so before the bigger neighbouring town of Sluis. During a while it was an important port; the monumental tower of the church is a silent reminder of that. Worth seeing are the church with its tower, the village pump, the market square and the surrounding houses and farmhouses. [have a look]
	Sluis. If you follow the "Damse Vaart" from Damme in northern direction, you eventually end up in Sluis. Sluis is located in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen (Netherlands) and was a very important harbour. Nowadays it's a pleasant shoppingtown with cosy terraces. Worth seeing are the town walls, the town gates, the quay, the belfort (the only one in the Netherlands!), the windmill and the town centre. [have a look]