Beveren-aan-de-IJzer (

West Flemish West Flemish (''West-Vlams'' or ''West-Vloams'' or ''Vlaemsch'' (in French-Flanders), nl, West-Vlaams, french: link=no, flamand occidental) is a collection of Dutch dialects spoken in western Belgium and the neighbouring areas of France and t ...

: ''Bevern-a'n-Yzer'') is a village in the municipality of

Alveringem Alveringem (; vls, Oalveringem) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Alveringem proper, Beveren-aan-de-IJzer, Gijverinkhove, Hoogstade, Izenberge, Leisele, Oeren, Sint-Rijke ...

in the

Belgian Belgian may refer to: * Something of, or related to, Belgium * Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent * Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German *Ancient Belgian language, an extinct languag ...

province of

West Flanders ) , settlement_type = Province of Belgium , image_flag = Flag of West Flanders.svg , flag_size = , image_shield = Wapen van West-Vlaanderen.svg , shield_size = , image_map ...

. The village is located near the border with

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

, and was therefore called ''Beveren aan de Franse grens'' during the 19th century. Until 1971, Beveren-aan-de-IJzer was an independent municipality.

Overview

Beveren-aan-de-IJzer was first mentioned in 806 as Bebrona. It is one of the oldest parishes in the area. In 1232, a monastery was founded in the village, however it was destroyed in 1579 by the

Geuzen Geuzen (; ; french: Les Gueux) was a name assumed by the confederacy of Calvinist Dutch nobles, who from 1566 opposed Spanish rule in the Netherlands. The most successful group of them operated at sea, and so were called Watergeuzen (; ; frenc ...

, rebels fighting from an independent

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

. Until 1566, it was part of the

diocese In Ecclesiastical polity, church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided Roman province, pro ...

Terwaan. Beveren-aan-de-IJzer is an agriculture community with a decreasing population. In 1902, it was home to 1,665 people, and by 1999, the population had decreased to 659. In 2017, there were no shops in the village, and therefore the villagers have opened a village shop where you can buy bread or have your bicycle fixed. The Saint Audomarus Church is a three-aisled gothic church constructed in the 15th century. It has been declared a monument on 14 September 2009. The graveyard contains the graves of 20 Commonwealth servicemen from

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, and eight from

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. Two of the World War II graves are unidentified. In 1971, the municipality was merged into

Stavele Alveringem (; vls, Oalveringem) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Alveringem proper, Beveren-aan-de-IJzer, Gijverinkhove, Hoogstade, Izenberge, Leisele, Oeren, Sint-Rijke ...

which in turn was merged into

in 1976.

References

External links

Village website
(in Dutch) * {{commons inline Alveringem Populated places in West Flanders