Diksmuide
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Image:IJzertoren.jpg Diksmuide (Dixmude in French) is a municipality in the province of West Flanders in Belgium.
The municipality comprises Diksmuide itself and the towns of Beerst, Esen, Kaaskerke, Keiem, Lampernisse, Leke, Nieuwkapelle, Oostkerke, Oudekapelle, Pervijze, Sint-Jacobs-Kapelle, Stuivekenskerke, Vladslo and Woumen. On 1 January 2005 it had a total population of 15,636. The total area is 149.4 km², giving a population density of 104.66 inhabitants per km². It's a twin town of Ellesmere in the UK.
Diksmuide stands on the River IJzer, which was a front line throughout the First World War. It was first attacked on October 16, 1914, at the beginning of the Battle of the Yser. By the time the fighting ended, the town had been reduced to rubble and it was completely rebuilt in the 1920s. In remembrance of the Flemish participation in the War a peace monument, the IJzertoren was built.
The Ijzertoren is now the scene of the yearly Ijzerbedevaart, at the same time a celebration of peace and a demonstration for Flemish political autonomy. It is also often associated with neo-nazi meetings. A more radical faction now organizes the Ijzerwake.
External link
de:Diksmuide eo:Diksmuide fr:Dixmude nl:Diksmuide no:Diksmuide