The best dog-friendly hikes and walks in Domein Blommerschot En Beulkbeemden

pleasant picnic area with brand new oak benches, both under cover and outdoors.

Beautiful and well-maintained chapel. With interesting information about the chapel and the airfield.

It's always worth taking a closer look...

Surprising strip in the forest

Gasthof De Keizer Around 1880, this farmhouse was renovated. The building then housed a painting studio with a large north-facing window. Many well-known painters stayed here, drawn to the farming village of Wechelderzande by Adrien Joseph Heymans. The painter wielded considerable influence and attracted artists such as Florent Crabeels, Jacques Rosseels, Henry van de Velde, and Jules Schmalzigaug. This laid the foundation for the "Wechelse Schilderskolonie" (Wechel Painters' Colony). They were all plein-airists, outdoor painters, who abandoned academic painting and sought out the great outdoors. De Keizer was an artists' inn. It was the only one of many from the 19th century that still functions as a restaurant. Adrien Joseph Heymans encouraged the Cesar Smans-Verlooy couple to convert their farmhouse café into a lodging house for his painter friends. "Auberge Ganne" in Barbizon, where he had lived for two years, served as his model. The studio in De Keizer was sometimes rented to Florent Crabeels and Adrien Joseph Heymans. Later, it was rented to Henry van de Velde. He lived in De Keizer for four years and spent a large part of his painting career in Wechelderzande. He painted three-quarters of his works in Wechelderzande. Eight of these works he titled "Faits du village" or "Village Affairs." They are works in the post-impressionist style, pointillism. Source: www.lille.be

Situated on the corner of Heymansstraat. "Gasthof De Keizer," a traditional Kempen inn and inn, with the first story likely dating back to the first quarter of the 17th century; the first mention dates from 1620; later also a brewery; the second story for lodging rooms, a bathroom, and a studio, dates from the second half of the 19th century (before 1885). The inn became important in the 1870s and 1880s as a meeting place for a group of painters and writers who showed a keen interest in the Kempen landscape in their work and, as such, belonged to the "Kalmthout School," or more specifically, the "Wechel School," including Adriaan Heymans, Emile Claus, Jaak Rosseels, Florent Crabeels, Frans Courtens, Théodore Baron, and Isidoor Meyers. Henry Van de Velde, a renowned architect and esteemed painter, also lived here for four years (1886-1890). The former farmstead and inn was subsequently adapted as a lodging house and equipped with a painting studio; for this purpose, a second story was added with a large window in the north facade (to allow natural light to enter). Restoration and extension at the rear were carried out in 1992-1993, designed by architect J. De Walsche. Anchored, plastered facade with a double-house elevation and diminutive ordinance, five bays and two stories under a gable roof (mechanical tiles). Simple, rectangular, shuttered windows with gates on the upper floor; a covered terrace built on the ground floor from the 1960s. Rectangular door in a flat bluestone frame. Round-arched studio window in the north facade. Interior: fairly authentic taproom with a preserved fireplace. Administration of Spatial Planning, Housing and Monuments & Landscapes, Department of Spatial Planning, Housing and Monuments Preservation Antwerp, Monuments and Landscapes, Protection File A/1186. DILLEN R., Lodging House "De Keizer", Historical Society "Norbert de Vrijter", Yearbook 1989, VII, pp. 77-90. Source: KENNES H. & STEYAERT R. 2001: Inventory of Cultural Heritage in Belgium, Architecture, Province of Antwerp, District of Turnhout, Canton of Herentals, Building Through the Ages in Flanders 16n3, Brussels-Turnhout. Authors: Kennes, Hilde Date: 2001 The text is provided by: Flanders Heritage Agency (AOE)

Always interesting to read. This way you learn something about local history.

The church boasts the painting: Glorification of Saint Amelberga by Theodoor Boeyermans (1664), a Descent from the Cross by Cornelis de Vos (1626), and Our Lady with Child Giving the Rosary to Saint Dominic by Michiel Coxie. There are also several statues, including Saint Amelberga (15th or 16th century), Our Lady (circa 1600), Saint Hubert (circa 1700), Saints Peter and Paul (17th century), Saint Sebastian (18th century), and a Triumphal Cross (1525). The northern portico altar, dedicated to Our Lady, dates from the early 17th century. The southern portico altar, dedicated to Saint Amelberga, dates from the same period. The organ dates from 1832 and was made by Delhaye. The baptismal font is 17th century and has a 16th century Gothic stone base.