IJzertoren

IJzertoren

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 former resistance fighters in an atmosphere of post WWII repression. Several years later, a new tower was built on the same place.

The IJzertoren symbolizes the demand for "Nooit meer Oorlog" (No more 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.

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.

ee also

* Anton van Wilderode
* Flemish movement

External links

* [http://www.ijzertoren.org/ IJzertoren] Official Website


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