Editing Dendermonde (section)

===Origins to the 15th century===
The region of the [[Scheldt]] was inhabited in prehistory, as proven by some [[La Tène culture|La Tène]] artifacts found in [[Appels]]. Grave sites from the 2nd and 6th century also attest to dense settlement in [[Gallo-Roman]] and [[Merovingian]] times. In 843, the [[Treaty of Verdun]] placed Dendermonde in [[Lotharingia]]. After the [[Normans|Norman]] invasions of 883, however, [[Baldwin II of Flanders|Baldwin II]] took over the region and incorporated it into the German part of the newly founded [[County of Flanders]].

[[Otto II]] built a fort here in the 10th century, encouraging further settlements in the area. The town received its city [[charter]] in 1233 and grew quickly after that, thanks to a thriving cloth industry. Several cloisters, chapels and churches, and a fortified defensive wall were built as well. A cloth hall and belfry were erected on the market square in the mid 14th century. The town's prosperity, however, gave rise to severe competition with cities such as [[Ghent]] and to occasional attacks and plunders by neighbours. In 1384, the whole area came under the control of the Valois dukes of [[Duchy of Burgundy|Burgundy]].