Beveren-aan-de-IJzer (

West Flemish West Flemish (''West-Vlams'' or ''West-Vloams'' or ''Vlaemsch'' (in French Flanders), , ) is a collection of Low Franconian varieties spoken in western Belgium and the neighbouring areas of France and the Netherlands. West Flemish is spoken by ...

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

Alveringem Alveringem (; ) is a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality located in the Belgium, Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Alveringem proper, Beveren (Alveringem), Beveren-aan-de-IJzer, Gijverinkhove, Hoogstade ...

in the Belgian province of

West Flanders West Flanders is the westernmost province of the Flemish Region, in Belgium. It is the only coastal Belgian province, facing the North Sea to the northwest. It has land borders with the Dutch province of Zeeland to the northeast, the Flemis ...

. The village is located near the border with

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

, 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'' (; ; ) 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'' (; ; ). In the Eigh ...

, rebels fighting from an independent

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

. 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, prov ...

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 or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, and eight from

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

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

Stavele Stavele is a village in the Belgian province of West Flanders and is a submunicipality of Alveringem along the Yser. It was an independent municipality until 1970. It covers an area of and had 825 inhabitants in 1970. History Stavele was firs ...

which in turn was merged into

in 1976.

References

External links

Village website
(in Dutch) * {{Belgian municipality Alveringem Alveringem Populated places in West Flanders