Dendermonde ( Dutch pronunciation: [ˌdɛndərˈmɔndə] ; French: Termonde , French pronunciation: [tɛʁmɔ̃d] ) is a city in the Flemish province of East Flanders in Belgium. The municipality comprises the city of Dendermonde and the towns of Appels , Baasrode , Grembergen , Mespelare , Oudegem , Schoonaarde , and Sint-Gillis-bij-Dendermonde . Dendermonde is at the mouth of the river Dender , where it flows into the Scheldt . The town has a long-standing folkloric feud with Aalst , south along the same river, which dates from the Middle Ages .
21-595: The city is an administrative, commercial, educational, and medical centre for the surrounding region. The current mayor of Dendermonde is Leen Dierick ( Christian Democratic and Flemish ). The region of the Scheldt was inhabited in prehistory, as proven by some La Tène artifacts found in Appels . Grave sites from the 2nd and 6th century also attest to dense settlement in Gallo-Roman and Merovingian times. In 843,
42-701: A decline in Dendermonde's fortunes. In 1572, the city was conquered by William the Silent . The same year, however, Spanish troops under Duke Alexander Farnese of Parma , took over the city, looted and mostly destroyed it. A decade later, the Spaniards built their own fortress between the Dender and the Scheldt. In 1667, it was France's turn, under Louis XIV , to advance on the city, but they were turned back when
63-505: A thriving cloth industry. Several cloisters, chapels and churches, and a fortified defensive wall were built as well. A cloth hall and belfry were erected on the market square in the mid 14th century. The town's prosperity, however, gave rise to severe competition with cities such as Ghent and to occasional attacks and plunders by neighbours. In 1384, the whole area came under the control of the Valois dukes of Burgundy . The 16th century saw
84-494: Is a Flemish party that follows the principle of Christian democracy . Its core values include the importance of the family , promoting a respectful and warm society, and recognizing the intrinsic value of each individual. The party places a strong emphasis on well-being and health care , as well as the pursuit of an equitable income for all citizens. However, on the ethical front, CD&V holds conservative positions, particularly on issues such as abortion and euthanasia , where
105-667: The Treaty of Verdun placed Dendermonde in Lotharingia . After the Norman invasions of 883, however, Baldwin II took over the region and incorporated it into the German part of the newly founded County of Flanders . Otto II built a fort here in the 10th century, encouraging further settlements in the area. The town received its city charter in 1233 and grew quickly after that, thanks to
126-654: The agricultural sector . Results for the Chamber of Representatives , in percentages for the Kingdom of Belgium. From 1971 tot 1999: CVP figures. 2003: CD&V figures. 2007: CD&V/N-VA figures. From 2010 onwards: CD&V figures. CVP/PSC CVP CD&V Until 1968 this lists gives the president of the Flemish part of the unitary CVP/PSC. The party changed its name from CVP to CD&V on 29 September 2001. Belgian Elite League The Belgian Elite League
147-592: The president of the European Council from 2009 to 2014, is one of the leading politicians of CD&V. CD&V is a member of the European People's Party (EPP) and Centrist Democrat International . The history of the CD&;V dates back to the 19th century. It originated in the 19th century Catholic Party . At the end of the century, the new fraction of Christian democrats shifted the focus of
168-806: The 18th century was generally prosperous, with the advent of the Industrial Revolution and a local cotton industry. After 1800, the port facilities were modernized and the first railways laid down, allowing other industries (e.g. oil, shoe, leather, etc.) to move in. The onset of World War I in September 1914 was disastrous for the city as more than half of its housing and the city archives were either bombed or burned down. On August 19, 2006, 28 prisoners managed to escape Dendermonde prison. Seven of them were captured within hours. A few were later found in Italy and Russia. They managed to escape because
189-578: The European Council . Afterwards, Yves Leterme led his second government . In June 2009, Flemish elections were held and the CD&V remained the largest party of Flanders. Kris Peeters stayed as Flemish minister-president . The party also remained the largest Flemish party in the European Parliament after the 2009 European elections . In 2010, the Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats (Open VLD) decided to step out of
210-663: The Farmer's League. Until 2001, the party was named the Christian People's Party ( Christelijke Volkspartij , CVP ). It was traditionally the largest political party of Flanders, until it was overtaken by the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) in the 2010s. CD&V participated in most governments and has generally the largest number of mayors. Most prime ministers of Belgium and minister-presidents of Flanders have been CD&V politicians. Herman Van Rompuy ,
231-523: The attack. Dendermonde likes to be known for its decennial procession, featuring the heroic horse: Ros Beiaard . Legend has this horse saving his master and his three brothers from capture by Charlemagne . The annual Parade of the three Giants of the Guilds Indian, Mars and Goliath, have the title of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO . This parade takes place on
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#1732788010513252-585: The defenders opened the dikes and flooded the countryside. The allied troops of the Netherlands and England, under the Duke of Marlborough , caused the heaviest damage in 1706. The city was then fortified by the Austrians against further French ambitions. After a last siege by Louis XV , the city could finally breathe to the point that the fortifications were dismantled a few decades later. The second half of
273-626: The federal centre-left coalition, but this time without the Greens. In 2004, Flemish elections were held and the CD&V once more became the largest political party by representation in the Flemish Parliament. Yves Leterme became Flemish minister-president. After successful local elections in 2006, the party became the largest party in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives after the federal elections of 2007 . The CD&V led
294-521: The federal coalition, consequently ending the government. The federal elections of 2010 resulted in a major loss of historic proportions for CD&V, largely due to votes lost to the Flemish-nationalist New Flemish Alliance . In the campaign, former prime minister Yves Leterme took a subtle step aside as frontrunner of the party. The president of the party, Marianne Thyssen , had pre-electorally stated that she
315-660: The last Thursday of August. Dendermonde is home to Rugby Union club Dendermondse RC , champions of the Belgian Elite League in the 2011/12 season. Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams Christian Democratic and Flemish ( Dutch : Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams , pronounced [ˌkrɪstə(n)deːmoːˈkraːtis ɛɱ ˈvlaːms] ; CD&V ) is a Flemish Christian-democratic political party in Belgium. The party has historical ties to both trade unionism ( ACV ) and trade associations ( UNIZO ) and
336-436: The lock was old and rusty. They simply walked away, tied all their sheets together, climbed over the wall, jumped on a phone booth and ran away. On 23 January 2009, a 20-year-old Flemish man named Kim De Gelder attacked a children's daycare centre in the village of Sint-Gillis-bij-Dendermonde , stabbing three people to death and wounding as many as twenty. One of the school teachers and two babies, aged 8 and 9 months, died in
357-408: The party is reluctant to fast-track relaxations. Combining these conservative ethics with progressive socioeconomic policies, CD&V is often considered a "centre party". In its administrative activities, CD&V nurtures close ties with civil society, including trade unions , professional federations and various associations. In doing so, the party strives to represent the voice of rural areas and
378-678: The party slightly to the left. In the interwar years the party was renamed Catholic Bloc . Then, the Christian Social Party (PSC-CVP) existed from 1945 until 1968. In 1968, the PSC-CVP was split into the French-speaking Christian Social Party (PSC, now Les Engagés ) and Flemish Christian People's Party (Christelijke Volkspartij CVP). In 2001 the CVP changed its name to the CD&V. The party
399-412: The subsequent coalition talks, which repeatedly stalled (see 2007–2008 Belgian government formation ). On the 20 March 2008, a new federal government was finally assembled, led by Yves Leterme. Kris Peeters subsequently became the next minister-president of Flanders. From 30 December 2008 till 25 November 2009, Herman Van Rompuy led his first cabinet before becoming the first permanent president of
420-522: Was a candidate to become prime minister. On 6 December 2011, the Di Rupo Government was formed, with the CD&V as the largest Flemish party. During the local elections in 2012 , CD&V managed to remain the largest Flemish party on the local level. It remained in the coalition of all five Flemish provinces and in three quarters of the municipalities. Almost half of these municipalities were subsequently led by CD&V mayors. CD&V
441-566: Was almost continually in power from its establishment until 1999, with the exception of 1954–1958. In 1999, the Flemish Liberals and Democrats (VLD) became the largest party in Belgium, and formed a majority purple government of liberals, social democrats and greens. The same happened in the Flemish Government, but with the addition of Flemish nationalists. In 2003 CD&V again lost the federal elections which continued
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