Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-ter-Duinenkerk, Gothic church in Mariakerke, Belgium.
Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-ter-Duinenkerk is a Gothic church in Mariakerke built near the dunes and featuring a distinctive western tower. The building follows a hallway structure and remains a focal point of the local area.
The site first appeared in records in 1071, when Count Robert the Frisian founded a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The structure evolved into the Gothic building that stands today and has survived through the centuries.
The church serves as a gathering place where generations have celebrated important moments and where locally prominent figures chose to be remembered. Visitors can sense this deep connection to Ostend through the works displayed inside and the names inscribed in its walls.
The church is accessible through the dune area near the coast and visitors can explore the interior during open hours. The adjacent cemetery is also open to view and offers a complete picture of the site.
The tower was deliberately shortened during World War I to prevent it from serving as a reference point for Allied artillery. This wartime alteration remains visible and tells the story of the church's strategic importance during the conflict.
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