# The Church of Our Lady in Damme and the climb up its tower

What to do en Damme · Damme

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/belgium/damme/things-to-do/olv-church-tower · Revisado: 2026-11-14

- Desde: 3 € adult, tower climb
- Duración: 45 min
- Temporada: April to September, every day from 13:00 to 17:00
- Para quién: Anyone who is good on stairs; not suitable for pushchairs

Church and tower · 45 min · 206 steps · tower €3, free under 16 · April to September, from 13:00 to 17:00

The Church of Our Lady is what you see most of Damme from the canal: a flat, massive tower over the polders. It was begun in 1220 and grew in the 13th century, when the port brought in money; after the Calvinist rebels sacked the town in 1578, it was half-restored and never recovered what it had been, which is why part of the nave is in ruins.
What you see inside
On the pillars of the nave are 13th-century wooden apostles. Above the altar hangs a cross which, according to legend, the fishermen of Damme pulled out of the sea, and which goes out every year in the Procession of the Holy Blood in Bruges. The poet Jacob van Maerlant is buried here; his gravestone was lost in the 18th century and a plaque remains.
The tower
There are 206 steps to the top. From above you can understand Damme and its history: the line of the 17th-century ramparts, the Damse Vaart running straight to Bruges and the polders to the horizon. The church is free; the tower costs €3 for adults and nothing for under-16s. Both open from April to September, every day from 13:00 to 17:00.

## Cómo llegar y contacto

- Coordenadas: 51.2494, 3.2827

## Cerca de aquí

- [Tante Marie, in Damme](https://www.geocalia.com/en/belgium/damme/where-to-eat/tante-marie), a 112 m
- [Rond de wallen, the circuit of Damme's ramparts](https://www.geocalia.com/en/belgium/damme/things-to-do/ramparts-walk), a 218 m
- [The Damse Vaart walk, from Damme to Oostkerke across the polders](https://www.geocalia.com/en/belgium/damme/things-to-do/damse-vaart-walk), a 218 m
- [Franse forten, the French forts walk around Damme](https://www.geocalia.com/en/belgium/damme/things-to-do/french-forts-walk), a 265 m
- [The Damme Markt, the Gothic town hall and Till Eulenspiegel's house](https://www.geocalia.com/en/belgium/damme/things-to-do/markt-and-town-hall), a 265 m
- [The Damme book market, on the second Sunday of every month](https://www.geocalia.com/en/belgium/damme/things-to-do/book-market), a 265 m
- [The Schellemolen, Damme's windmill beside the canal](https://www.geocalia.com/en/belgium/damme/things-to-do/schellemolen), a 382 m

## Consejos

### Come after lunch
It opens at one o'clock: see the village in the morning and climb afterwards.

### Bring something warm
The wind blows across the polders at the top.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How much is it to climb the Damme tower?
€3 for adults; free for under-16s.

### When is it open?
From April to September, every day from 13:00 to 17:00.

### How many steps does it have?
206.

Destino: [Damme](https://www.geocalia.com/en/belgium/damme.md)