IJzertoren
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Coordinates: 51°01′54″N 2°51′12″E / 51.03167°N 2.85333°E
The IJzertoren (Yser Tower) is a memorial along the Belgian Yser river in Diksmuide. There have been two IJzertorens, the first built after the First World War by an organisation of former Flemish soldiers. On the night of 15 and 16 March 1946 it was illegally demolished with dynamite; the perpetrators were never caught, though there are strong indications of involvement of the Belgian military and anti-Flemish, French-speaking radicalists. Several years later, a new and higher tower was built on the same place. With the remains of the old tower, the Paxpoort or Pax-gate (Gate of Peace) was built.
The IJzertoren site is also the burial place of some Flemish soldiers killed on the battlefield, who have become examples and heroes for Flanders. For example the "Van Raemdonck-brothers". Both were sergeants in the same regiment, and after a successful offensive across the Yser River, Edward noticed that his brother wasn't with the regiment anymore. He turned back into enemy territory and was found in his brother's arms 19 days later. Later, the Germans offered a half-hour fighting pause in order for both sides to be able to give the bodies of their lost ones a prober burial. A French-speaking general (Bernheim) of the Belgian Army replied: ""Je n'en vois pas la nécessité. D'ailleurs il s'est avéré que le plus jeune des deux était un flamingant" ("I don't see why. By the way, it's known that the youngest one was a flamingant (a person who believes in the emancipation of Flanders) To which general Mahieu answered: ""En effet" ("Indeed")."
The IJzertoren symbolizes the demand for Nooit meer Oorlog (Never again War), written on the tower in the four languages of the fighting forces in the area during the First World War (Dutch, French, English and German). The rebuilt tower (84 m) is the highest peace monument in Europe.
The tower also sports the abbreviations AVV-VVK: Alles Voor Vlaanderen-Vlaanderen voor Kristus (All for Flanders-Flanders for Christ). It is a symbol of Flemish nationalism, especially regarding the rights to use the Dutch language and the rights to political autonomy. The IJzertoren has been recognised by the Flemish parliament as the official memorial of Flemish emancipation, especially against the oppression by the French-speaking minority of Flemish art, culture, etc.
Every year at the end of August the political meeting IJzerbedevaart is organised next to the IJzertoren.
The IJzertoren houses a museum on Oorlog, vrede en Vlaamse ontvoogding (War, Peace, and Flemish Emancipation), that belongs to the United Nations network of peace museums.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- IJzertoren Official Website
