Gevangenpoort

Willem was our tour guide. Bergen Zoom ; zoom means seam or edge. Bergen ( mountain or hills)
The River used to pass from Antwerp to the North Sea. In the Netherlands, rights to this town go back to 1287. Foreign trade settled in this area due to the location.

St Gertrude, head of the Abbey and church is named after her. The town was infested with rats. Townspeople prayed to her to rid them of the rats and vermin.

Church burned in 1972 at the end of a refurbishment effort.
French also destroyed it previously in 1747.

“ I will overcome a thousand dangers “ is the city motto.

Liberated by Canada during WW11
In medieval towns street we’re deliberately not straight, as you would not be vulnerable to arrows.

Not much damage from WW11, citizens sheltered under city tunnels as German V2 rockets were launched to the city towards Antwerp.

The city gate was used as a prison until 1950s. The inside is brick and the outside Belgian stone.Read more