The Dragon on the Belfry
The dragon on the Belfry is one of those things, that is very dear to the heart of the inhabitants of Ghent. But a few people know that they owe it to Baudewijn IX, who was count of flanders but at the same time emperor of Constantinopel. He took care of it that the dragon was transported to our regions. The men of the little Flemish village Biervliet fought with the count against the Turks. Those Flemings acted so courageously in the outpost-fights (the "voor-storme" as it was called picturesquely) that the count wished to reward them particulary. He gave them one of the pieces, that he had captured in the fight, namely a gigantic dragon, made of red-brass plate on an iron frame.
One has never been able to decide for certain on wish monument in Constantinopel the legendary dragon was glittering when it was captured from the Turks. Some people say that it was standing on the Aya Sofia, or on the St.-George’schurch, or maybe on the Bucoleon Palace. In the last century there was a Danish professor, who asserted that the dragon has been transported from Norway to Constantinopel by King Sigurd Magnussen.
Whatever, the people of Biervliet haven’t had that impressive showpiece for a long time because after a short time, it fell into the hands of the people of Bruges. But it is known, that, at the time of the Middle Ages the love between the city of the "reien" and Ghent wasn’t great, because now and then, the civilians of both cities gave battle.
After the battle of Beverhout and the conquest of Bruges, Filips of Artevelde had the dragon take off the St.-Donaas Tower and, had it transferred triumphantly to Ghent in five days time.
The bird was placed on the tower of the Belfry and one has to admit that there is no better place for it then there. For aren’t there numerous legends telling about dragons guarding treasures? So for ages, the Belfry of Ghent has been the place where the chartin aged and the priviliges of Ghent were kept. There for the dragon of Ghent is to be cosidered as a symbolis guardian of the biggest treasuere man can imagine, freedom.