City: Geraardsbergen is a city in the
Belgian province of East Flanders. The city was founded in
the period 1067-1070 by Baudouin VI, count of Flanders and
Hainaut. The place was important due to its strategic position
on the above mentioned Hill on the banks of the river Dender.
The city grew and became a focal point in Flanders, such as,
from the 12th century, for the cloth industry. Starting in
the 15th/16th century, Geraardsbergen became known for making
tapestries. Tapestries around the world are still admired
for their craftsmanship. The late middle ages were disasterous
for Geraardsbergen and its surroundings. Sieges, fires and
the plague decimated the population. By the end of the 16th
century there were only 182 houses inhabited. However, the
city revived. The cloth industry was replaced by lace industry,
and then by other industries. The city today numbersaround
31,667 inhabitants (2008).
