Dendermonde - Sint-Pieter en Paulusbasiliek

Towards the end of the Frankish period, a settlement was established here, later another followed in the shadow of a castle built by Emperor Otto II in the second half of the 10th century. The name Dendermonde is first mentioned in a document from 1087. In 1223, a Cistercian abbey was founded, and in 1233, Robrecht van Bethune granted Dendermonde city rights. As early as the 13th century, Dendermonde was a walled and ramparted city.
In 1837, a Benedictine abbey was established in the former Capuchin monastery. In 1900, the old Capuchin church became too small and t was replaced by the present church building in 1902. In 1914, the abbey, like large parts of Dendermonde, was largely destroyed by a war fire.The spires and roof of the abbey church were destroyed. In 1919, the restoration of the abbey church and the construction of the new abbey began.

The church was locked