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Aardenburg
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 You can find more info about Aardenburg on: http://www.gemeentesluis.nl
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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 
In
the center, 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. 
