Page 162 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

160  BEL GIUM AND L UXEMBOURG REGION B Y REGION

2 Sint-Amands
25 km (15 miles) SW of Antwerp.
Road Map C2. * 8,000. @ 4
n Livien van der Looystraat 10; (052)
399862. ∑ sint-amands.be
Lying along a broad stretch
of the River Scheldt, the small
town of Sint-Amands is a popular
destination for cyclists. It is
celebrated as the birthplace
of the Symbolist poet Emile The stately Kasteel Hertogen van Brabant, close to Turnhout’s Grote Markt
Verhaeren (1855–1916), who lies
buried, along with his wife, under into a concentration camp for printing. A rich collection of
a black marble tomb near the 3,500 Belgian political prisoners historical artifacts on the Kempen
river. The town has a collection and Jews during World War II. region is exhib ited in the town’s
of his manuscripts, early editions, Today, the grim, labyrinthine Taxandria Museum. Just to its
paintings and mementos, which interior has been converted north is the tranquil Begijnhof,
is presented beautifully at the into a museum that reveals the lined with houses dating from
Provinciaal Museum Emile shocking events that took place the 16th and 17th centuries. It
Verhaeren. Verhaeren wrote here. It pulls no punches and also has a small museum about
affectionately of a ferryman who even includes the role of béguinage life.
took people across the river. The Flemish Nazis in this horror. Turnhout was once a part of
ferryman’s house, Het Veerhuis Brabant and close to its Grote
has been restored and is used Environs Markt is the old centre of power,
for exhibitions. Another fort in this group, Fort the robust Kasteel Hertogen van
Liezele is a museum covering Brabant (Castle of the Dukes of
Environs its military history from Brabant), surrounded by a moat.
Just to the north is a defunct construction to World War II. Since 1826, the town has also
branch of the River Scheldt, been famous as a manufacturer
called the Oude Schelde, an area E Fort Liezele of playing cards. A former card
of pretty countryside and cycling Hoogstraat 29, Puurs. Tel (03) 8907620. factory here is now home to
routes. The Kasteel van Bornem Open 1:30–5:30pm Sat, Sun & public the Nationaal Museum van
(Château Marnix de Ste Aldegonde) holidays. & - ∑ fortliezele.be de Speelkaart (National Playing
is a late 19th-century Neo-Gothic Card Museum), which exhibits
château located by the river. printing machines and historical
4 Turnhout cards dating from 1500.
E Provinciaal Museum Emile
Verhaeren 42 km (26 miles) NE of Antwerp. Environs
Road Map D1. * 40,000. £ @
E Verhaerenstraat 71. Tel (052) 330 805. n Grote Markt 44; (014) 443355. A popular theme park located
Open Mar–Jun and Sep–Nov: 11am– ∑ turnhout.be 12 km (7 miles) to the south of
6pm Sat, Sun & public holidays; Jul– Turnhout, Bobbejaanland has
Aug: 11am–6pm Tue–Sun. & Capital of the flat, marshy more than 50 thrilling rides and
P Kasteel van Bornem heathland area known as the live shows.
Kasteelstraat 34, Bornem. Tel (03) Kempen, Turnhout thrives on a
8899009. Open Aug: 1:30–4pm 15 range of light industries such as E Taxandria Museum
and last two Sun; Sep: 1:30–4pm first Begijnenstraat 28. Tel (014) 436335.
two Sun. &∑ chateaumarnixde Open 2–5pm Tue–Sat, 11am–5pm
saintealdegonde.be Sun. &
E Begijnhof
3 Memorial Begijnhof 56 (museum). Tel (014)
Breendonk 421248. Open 2–5pm Tue–Sat,
11am–5pm Sun. & 7
Brandstraat 57, Willebroek; 5 km E Nationaal Museum van de
(3 miles) S of Antwerp. Road Map C2. Speelkaart
Tel (03) 8607525. Open daily. & 9 Druivenstraat 18. Tel (014) 415621.
7 = ∑ breendonk.be
Open 10am–5pm Tue–Fri, 11am–5pm
Prior to World War I, three squat, Sat & Sun. &
moated fortresses were built to  Bobbejaanland
the south of Antwerp to protect Olensteenweg 45, Kasterlee. Tel (014)
the city. They were militarily 557811. Open end Mar–Oct; see
ineffective, but the Nazis turned Photographs from the World War II era on website for details. & 7 0 - =
one of them, Fort Breendonk, view at Memorial Breendonk ∑ bobbejaanland.be
For hotels and restaurants see p268 and pp286–8

160-161_EW_Belgium.indd 160 18/10/16 3:01 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
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Date 1st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm