8 September is Heritage Day in Flanders. This is the 36th time that a Heritage Day has taken place in our region. This year's host city is the Flemish Brabant university city of Leuven. The theme of this year’s Heritage Day is transport, be it on roads, by rail or over water. Heritage Days are also taking place in Belgium’s other regions.
Along routes, some of which are centuries old, the Heritage Day focuses on monuments, historic buildings and landscapes that bear witness to a rich but also often forgotten history.
This year more than 1,100 events and places of interest are included in Flanders’ Heritage Day. Almost all are free of charge. However, in the case of some it is advisable to book in advance to avoid disappointment.
At some locations so-called ‘ambassadors’, people specialised in areas related to the history of a monument or another area of expertise, are on hand to inform the public.
What is there to discover?
The choice at Heritage Day is huge. Cycling plays a major role in this year’s ‘En Route!’ Heritage Day. In addition to this you can also visit hisorical railway station buildings as well as museums and organisations that are specialized in vintage cars, trams, trains, buses and even mopeds.
Last but not least, museums and organisations that focus on river and canal transport have also opened their doors to the public.
Click here to find out what there is to see near you (website in Dutch).