BELGIUM city of VEURNE

In and around Veurne’s main square, are all the main sights of this little town of medieval origin. From left to right, the town hall, built from 1590 , the former manor house built between 1613 and 1618 against the belfry, and the 13th century church of St Walburg. In the foreground, houses with Renaissance motifs offer a picturesque side.

There is a procession that takes place every year on the last Sunday in July. From St Walburg’s church it goes all around the town to the sound of the church bells, stopping several times while the residents act out scenes from the Passion. A legacy of Spanish rule, it is a very impressive ceremony involving the whole town.

St. Walburg’s church and the belfry which came from a neighbouring park, in the 9th century. The Count of Flandrers, Baldwin Iron Arm brought relics of St. Walburg’s church to Veurne. These were entrusted to a Benedictine monastery and inspired the building of the church, rebuilt in the 13th century entirely of brick, where almost all of the churches in Coastal Flanders are built from. The elegant corner towers and gables made of large, undecorated brick walls. The Gothic-Renaissance style belfry was completed in the 17th century and was a symbol of urban liberties, the first of which were obtained in 1109 from Countess Gertrude.

The Spanish Officer’s pavilion that was built between 1450 and 1530 in the style of the era of the Dukes of Burgundy, It’s name recalls the troubled period of the Wars of Religion when power fell into the hands of the King of Spain who pursued the Protestantism which had taken root in Flanders.

The city of Veurne is located in West Flanders with a population of over 11, 000. It is on the North West edge of Belgium, near the coast bordering to France. Veurne officially became a city in the 12th century during which trade with England flourished. Around 1270 the relationship declined and the city went into an economic downturn and hence a nickname at the time became ‘’The Veurne sleepers’’.

In 1297 there was a battle between the Flemish cities and the French King. Moving on to the country saw the construction of a new city hall known as the Spanish officers pavilion.

From the 19th and 20th century the battle of Waterloo until WW1, Veurne joined a peaceful prosperous century. The railway was made on demand of Robert Stevenson as a way to Dunkerque and onto England.

Today the city is a regional centre which offers educational services, medical and communal services to the local communities and enjoys an increasing tourist trade.