Summary
In a vast polder landscape, Damme serves as a historic fortified town that emerged in Medieval times as a trading outpost for the adjacent Bruges.
Under Napoleon, a substantial portion of the town was dismantled to accommodate the Damse Vaart, a canal that was intended to form part of a grand but unrealized network of waterways linking Northern France with the Low Countries.
During the Eight Years’ War, when Damme was under Spanish control, the town was fortified with earthwork bastions, ravelins, and moats, forming a seven-pointed star system that is still visible today.
As you stroll along the cobblestoned Kerkstraat, you will encounter centuries’ worth of Gothic and Renaissance architecture and fascinating remnants from Damme’s era as a garrison town in the 17th century.
1. Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Hemelvaartkerk
If there is a single location that you must see in Damme, it is the now deconsecrated church dedicated to the Ascension.
This Scheldt Gothic edifice was constructed during the 13th century and had reached a cathedral-like size by the 14th century when the iconic flat tower was added.
Devastation occurred in 1578 when the church was plundered by the Geuze, with further destruction following as Damme’s decline necessitated the demolition of the transept and nave in the 18th century.
The magnificent Late Gothic choir remains intact, and the 13th-century carvings of the apostles along the central aisle survived the sectarian violence of the 16th century.
From April to September, visitors can ascend the 206 steps of the tower to admire Damme and the intricate outlines of its historic fortifications.
2. Stadhuis
Damme’s town hall is a Brabantine Gothic masterpiece completed in the 1460s, built upon the foundations of an earlier structure.
Alongside stepped gables at either end and a 17th-century wooden cupola, the facade features a double staircase, crocketed pinnacles, a traceried balustrade, and six niches adorned with 19th-century statues.
These figures primarily represent the Counts of Flanders, including Charles the Bold (Duke of Burgundy) and Margaret of York, who were wed in this location in 1468. The carillon comprises 39 bells, with two originally cast in the 14th century, accompanied by a functioning clock dating back to 1459. In addition to weddings, municipal meetings continue to take place within the Vierschaere hall.
Both the Vierschaere and the adjacent Raadzaal feature splendid sculpted beams from 1465.
3. Kerkstraat
This expansive cobblestone street, connecting from the Damse Vaart canal, showcases much of Damme’s historical architecture.
The Stadhuis, Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Hemelvaartkerk, and the historic hospice Sint-Janshospitaal are all located along Kerkstraat, while the significant residence, Huyse de Grote Sterre, is also prominently visible.
There are a total of 12 recognized monuments along the route, yet Kerkstraat also serves as Damme’s commercial hub, featuring local boutiques, galleries, and a plethora of dining and drinking establishments.
4. Cycling
The flat polder countryside surrounding Damme presents an ideal environment for cycling, made more accessible by over 930 kilometers of pathways within the Brugse Ommeland Cycling Network.
Cyclists can glide alongside canals and traverse forests and polders, with the assurance of being near historic forts or charming villages.
The network’s green-white signage and numbered junctions (knooppunten) facilitate easy navigation.
For enhanced inspiration, there are more than 50 designated cycling routes available in and around Damme.
One notable long-distance route is the 280-kilometer Nordzeeroute, which connects Boulogne-sur-Mer and Den Helder in the Netherlands.
Locally, the trails “Hollandstelling” and “Damme aan het Front” feature informative boards highlighting the region’s history during the First and Second World Wars, respectively.
5. Schellemolen
A distinctive image associated with Damme is this windmill, which stands sentinel on the western bank of the Damse Vaart canal as you arrive.
In its current configuration, the Schellemolen dates back to 1867, although a mill has graced this location since 1479. Inside, two sets of millstones are available for grain and another for oil in the basement.
The Schellemolen ceased commercial milling operations in 1963 but was acquired by the province of West Flanders in 1971 and has resumed milling activities since 1977. Visitors are welcome on weekends during the spring and summer months.
6. Stadswallen van Damme
In the 17th century, during the Eighty Years’ War between the Netherlands and Spain, Damme was fortified as a garrison town, reinforced with layers of ramparts and moats in the design of a seven-pointed star.
These fortifications remain easily recognizable from the vantage point atop the Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Hemelvaartkerk.
The ramparts and surrounding polder area have now transformed into a nature reserve, serving as a winter habitat for thousands of geese, including pink-footed geese and greater white-fronted geese.
In summer, one can encounter grebes, tufted ducks, cormorants, and great blue herons in the waterways and wet meadows.
An accessible paved trail follows the contours of the star, lined with poplar trees and willow thickets.
Where Kerkstraat meets the defensive moat, one can observe the remnants of Damme’s casemate, currently a winter habitat for bats.
7. Damse Vaart
Many visitors arrive in Damme via this 15-kilometer canal, which connects Bruges with the Dutch border town of Sluis.
The Damse Vaart was originally conceived by Napoleon, who intended it as an inland route for mobilizing large troop movements.
It was supposed to link the cities of Northern France with Antwerp; however, the portion connecting Damme and Sluis was incomplete by the time he was ousted from power.
In 1818, King William I of the Netherlands mandated the canal’s completion, which involved significant demolition in Damme.
Currently, there are five daily trips between Damme and Noorweegse Kaai in Bruges, operating from early April until the end of September.
Once in Damme, the tree-lined towpath invites exploration into the picturesque polder landscapes surrounding the town.
8. Huyse de Grote Sterre
The attractive edifice featuring two gables adjacent to the Stadhuis is recognized as Huyse de Grote Sterre and boasts a rich historical narrative.
Constructed in the Late Gothic style, it consists of two commercial buildings, De Sterre and Crayenest, which were merged during the 1400s or 1500s.
Evidence in the basement traces the origins of these buildings back to the 1200s.
During the Spanish dominance in Flanders in the 17th century, this structure became the possession of the King of Spain, and the coat of arms above the portal dates from the 18th century when it served as the residence of canon J. van der Stricht.
This is complemented by his motto “Pacem opto” (I choose peace). By the late 20th century, Huyse de Grote Sterre faced decay and partially collapsed during a storm in 1992. The building has since been fully restored and houses Damme’s tourist office, a heritage shop, and a museum dedicated to the colorful character Till Eulenspiegel.
9. Uilenspiegelmuseum
In 1867, the novelist Charles De Coster published his renowned work, “The Legend of Thyl Ulenspiegel and Lamme Goedzak,” wherein the protagonist is said to have originated in Damme.
This association has linked Damme with various locales throughout the Low Countries, Germany, Bohemia, and as far as Italy in connection with Till Eulenspiegel.
For those unfamiliar, Eulenspiegel is a wandering folkloric trickster, featured in narratives since the 16th century.
These humorous episodic tales often reveal human follies, such as greed, vanity, or hypocrisy, often providing humorous retribution that typically includes a measure of comic absurdity.
The museum at Huyse de Grote Sterre explores the evolutionary history of this character over five centuries, showcasing manuscript reproductions, paintings, sculptures, and prints from the 1500s onward.
10. Sint-Janshospitaal
Located on Kerkstraat and extending down Bergstraat to the southwest, you will find a hospice and almshouse that was established in the 13th century.
The Sint-Janshospitaal was initiated by the city council and provided care for the ill and accommodation for travelers, administered by Augustinian sisters and brothers.
The main Medieval structure, fronting Kerkstraat, features Early Gothic architecture and was erected between 1270 and 1285. The western wing was added in the 15th century, with further expansions made in the 16th, 18th, and 19th centuries.
The building functioned as a care home until 2014. As of 2020, the complex is owned by the city and is set to undergo restoration.
In the interim, the site hosts exhibitions as part of the Damme Stadsfestival each September to December.
If visitors gain access to the Baroque 17th-century chapel, they will find statuary ranging from the 1400s to the 1600s, alongside a fragment of a sculpture of Christ believed to possess miraculous qualities, which was destroyed in 1578 by the Geuzen.
11. Jacob van Maerlant Statue
One of the most significant Middle Dutch authors during the Middle Ages, Jacob van Maerlant resided in Damme in the 13th century.
Van Maerlant, who passed away around 1300, began his literary career translating French romances into Middle Dutch, later focusing on historical and scientific works aimed at enlightening the Flemish and Dutch nobility.
With an output exceeding 230,000 verses, he ranks as one of the most prolific Medieval authors, coining phrases that are integral to Flemish national identity.
Traditionally, he was interred beneath a blank stone at Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Hemelvaartkerk, with the rationale being that it would ultimately be his corpse beneath it, not a marker of individuality.
You will encounter his statue in front of the town hall, sculpted by Bruges artisan Hendrik Pickery (1828-1894) and unveiled in 1860.
12. Boekenmarkten
Damme’s rich literary heritage makes it a suitable venue for a bi-monthly book market held on the second Sunday of each month.
During the summer months, the market takes place on the quaint cobblestone square in front of the Stadhuis, positioned conveniently at the foot of the Jacob van Maerlant statue; in winter, it relocates inside the town hall.
The market operates from 10:00 to 18:00, featuring various categories, with a distinct overarching theme changing monthly.
These themes are posted on Damme’s official tourism website and encompass diverse topics such as horticulture, poetry, travel, history, gastronomy, children/youth themes, and foreign languages.
13. Hoeke Windmill
This tower mill is quite prominent in the polder landscape adjacent to the N49. Historically, Hoeke, now a small hamlet, was once a fully developed town, with references to a mill as early as 1344. Documentation indicates the presence of a windmill at the current location in 1481.
Although the existing structure was erected in 1840, its internal machinery dates back to 1772. Grain milling operations continued here until 1936, and the building has held protected monument status since 1981, undergoing several restorations. Since 1985, Hoeke Windmill has operated again.
Under the stewardship of Erfgoed Vlaanderen, which preserves Flemish heritage, Hoeke Windmill invites visits every Sunday from 10:00 to 12:00.
14. Verbrand Fort
Part of a series of fortifications constructed during the War of the Spanish Succession in the early 18th century, this redoubt is located a few kilometers outside of Damme.
Verbrand Fort (Burnt Fort) served as an outpost for the larger Fort van Beieren, the traces of which can still be seen southwest of Damme.
With its square layout, Verbrand Fort, named after its former wooden watchtower that was consumed by fire, is easily identifiable at the junction formed by the Schipdonkkanaal and the Romboutswervedijk.
Since 2001, the area has been designated as a nature reserve, and in 2011, the earthwork ramparts were restored.
A large interpretive board recounts the site’s history and provides information about the various waterfowl and passerine species that frequent this wet meadow habitat.
15. Damme Golf & Country Club
For those interested in golf, the town’s namesake course is located just ten minutes away.
The 18-hole championship course, adorned with trees and water hazards, strikes an ideal balance by presenting a stimulating challenge for seasoned players while remaining accommodating for newcomers.
For those playing from the back tees, the total course length exceeds 6220 meters.
Additionally, there is the nine-hole President’s Nine, which was designed by Belgian course architect Bruno Steensels and mimics a links course thanks to its rolling sandy hills.
For novices, there is also a nine-hole Compact Course, which serves as an excellent opportunity to hone short game skills.
