Art4All @ Diest

Students Tourism KTA2 Diest

9-11-2015

Table of Contents
Belgium ...................................................................................................................................... 3
Diest ........................................................................................................................................... 4
Grote Markt: .......................................................................................................................... 4
Beguinage: ............................................................................................................................ 6
More information .................................................................................................................. 7
Activities .................................................................................................................................... 8
The mines of Beringen.......................................................................................................... 8
Scherpenheuvel ................................................................................................................... 9
Averbode ............................................................................................................................ 10
Evening Activities................................................................................................................ 11

Belgium
Belgium is a small country located in the centre of Europe. Its divided into 10 provinces, you are situated in Vlaams-Brabant right now. Diest is located at the border
of Vlaams-Brabant to Limburg (*). Belgium is partly Dutch and partly French. In Flanders, the main language is Dutch. In Wallonia the main language is French. Below,
you see the map of Belgium with all the provinces. Belgium is a Kingdom, our king is
Filip I and our Queen is Mathilde I.
In this document were going to present to you some very interesting places to visit
in this beautiful country.

(*) Diest

How to get from Bergen to Diest on 08/11/2015?

Departure 14.20 - from Bergen - to Brussel-Zuid (15:06)
Departure 15.12 - from Brussel-Zuid - to Hasselt (16:30)
Departure 16.37 - from Hasselt - to Diest (arrival 16:53)
Traveltime: 2 : 33
OR
Departure 15.56 - from Brussel-Zuid - to Leuven (16:25)
Departure 16.34 - from Leuven - to Diest (arrival 17:05)
Traveltime: 2 : 45

Diest
Diest is an enjoyable, undertaking and a
easily accessible city, where there is always
something to do, The beautiful streets,
awesome stores, delicious restaurants and
historical buildings make it a place you want to explore! The city shows its character
with the historical, folkloric, artistic, and gastronomic features it has.
Youll never be bored, from the beautiful Warande Park to the recreational domain
Halve Maan, youll always have something to do!
You dont have to stay in Diest, you can also venture out in the beautiful localities,
experience the nature of Kaggevinne, hire a bicycle at the station of Diest; and
head out on the road to Molenstede.

Grote Markt
The market place of Diest is surrounded by picturesque houses from the 16th to
18th Century. The town hall is also located here, in the basement of the city
museum.

CC Den Amer
Designed by Achille Vandormael, the cultural
center of Diest is the
place to be for any kind
of activities like concerts,
theatre shows, movies,
It opened in 2012.
Before this place was a
cultural center, it was a timber warehouse. When CC Den Amer was built, the steel
columns, beams and foundations inspired them to build this building around them.
The builders chose a very industrial look, inside and outside, you can notice it by the
huge windows and a lot of concrete and steel.
You have 4 different rooms in this building:
A big hall of 750m with a retractable podium
and a retractable stand, so its ideal for the
bigger parties and events.
A youth center of 430m which is also very
useful for the smaller parties.
A foyer
A technical room for all the lighting and
sound facilities
Also every year, our school organizes its proclamation in this building.
The modernity of this building is noticeable by its floor heating and solar energy.
The schedule of this Cultural Center is very busy. Thats the reason why its now more
sponsored by the city. By that, they could hire more employees. Since the opening
of Den Amer, the cultural center in Diest consists of: Den Amer itself, the
beguinage and the Cloth Hall.
Diest is a city that does a lot for the
youth. Since the opening in 2012, theres
a brand new party hall for all the youth
parties.
Of course, when you build such a center, you need a name. The inhabitants
of Diest were able to decide the name
by themselves. So it became Den Amer. Its actually a synonym for a dock and to
be more precise, it stands for the docks for the bigger ships on the Demer in the
past.

Beguinage
History of the beguinage
At the edge of the historical downtown, you can find the beguinage. The building
of the beguinage was orderd by Arnold IV in 1253. 5 centuries later it was closed
under the French reign. Just like all the other beguinages, it was built on the
cheapest and the worst ground and far away from the center of the city. Once
you walk through the baroque sandstone gateway, you will feel as if youre in
the Middle Ages again. There are 90 houses and convents, most of them were
built in the 17th and the 18th century. The baroque gateway dates from 1671.
The beguinage today
The inhabitants of the beguinage are the begijntjes. The begijntjes are widows, who
live in the same place. There are convents and houses, in the convents, there
are more widows because they have less money than others. The houses were
more expensive.
During the day, men could visit the women that lived in the beguinage. In the
evening they were sent out. On the gateway you can find an inscription in Latin
saying no pants allowed.
Near the beguinage you can find the church of the beguinage, the Saint Catharine church, the church is made out of ironstone and is dedicated to Saint
Catharine. Its a typical church from the 13th and the 14th century. It was built
with little equipment and includes a lantern tower. The church is now closed for
renovations but the homes are still inhabited by seniors. You can live in the
houses but you cant change their appearance. If inhabitants wish to change
the interior, a request needs to be made in city hall.
Every first Sunday of the month theres a book- and antique market. In the
beguinage you can find a authentic tavern called tavern 1618. In the house
Xaverius youll find the Flemish Centre for Eating- and Tableculture, a culinary
museum and a library. The earlier infirmary and the Apostles convent make up
the cultural centre of Diest.
Every year, the beguinage lights up 4500 candles so that the beguinage is lit and
there is a concert in the church of the beguinage that you can go to. Once a
year the beguinage organizes a huge medieval festival. Its a festival where the
people can dress like the people in the middle ages. In 1998 the beguinage
was recognised as world heritage.

More information is always available at the local tourism office.

Infobalie Toerisme
Koning Albertstraat 16a
3290 Diest
Tel. (013) 35 32 74

Fax (013) 32 23 06
toerismereservatie@diest.be
toerisme@diest.be
http://www.toerismediest.be

Activities in the area of Diest

Belgium is a country full of activities made for everyone, every age. We have selected some of the best activities for you near Diest.

The mines of Beringen

The former coalmines in Beringen were closed in 1981 and in 1994 they were selected by Flemish Minister Johan Sauwens to be protected. In 2010, the project
received 1.4 million euros from the government. Because of its international value,
another 15 million Euros donated by international heritage organizations, and it
should not only contribute to its conservation but also to its restauration.
Today the old mines form a very impressive museum, you cant see the mines themselves, but you can see the main building with the showers and wardrobes in it.
Opening hours
Monday

10h00 - 16h00

Tuesday

10h00 - 16h00

Wednesday

10h00 - 16h00

Thursday

10h00 - 16h00

Friday

10h00 - 16h00

Saturday

10h00 - 16h00

Sunday

10h00 - 16h00

Prices

website:

www.mijnmuseum.be

e-mail: info@mijnmuseum.be

Adults:

60+:

-18:

-6:

Free

Contact
Mijnmuseum
Koolmijnlaan

201,

Telefoon:

011/45

3582

Beringen
30

25

Scherpenheuvel

Scherpenheuvel is a very famous

place in Belgium, because its
very religious and a lot people go
on
pilgrimage
there.
Scherpenheuvel is located nearby
Diest. Very famous in the city is the
big basilica where everyday
much tourist visited. There is also a
big park around the basilica whit
much religious things to visit. There
is also a cultural centrum where you can do a lot of things: you can watch a movie
or go to a exhibition.
Opening hours
Contact
24/24h opened

Price
Free

August Nihoulstraat 13-15

3270 Scherpenheuvel
Telefoon: 013 35 24 00
Fax: 013 35 24 07
info@scherpenheuvel-zichem.be

Averbode

Averbode situated in VlaamsBrabant. The nickname of this

submunicipality is Everbeur
There is a lot of sights : Averbode Abbey, where most
tourist visited there .One of the
most populair place is Averbode Abbey ,is a Premonstratensian abbey situated in Averbode ,near Diest..Averbode Abbey was founded
about 11341135 by Count Arnold II of Loon Averbode Abbey can you see about
the past of Belgium, the arts and musics. Thereis also one church, use for pilgrimage.

Opening hours
Contact
Only visitable on special events
Price
Free

Norbertijnenabdij Averbode
Abdijstraat 1
3271 Averbode
013/780440
abdij@abdijaverbode.be

10

Evening Activities
Monday 9/10/2015:

Fotografiecircuit Vlaanderen Benjamin Engelbeens

(Photography circuit Flanders)
Every year, the photography circuit offers 11 selected photographers so they can show their work to a large public. Their
work is shown in 17 culture centers, spread over Flanders. This
way, the unknown Flemish photographers have the opportunity to come out with their photos. Quality and variation are
very important.
Where?

When?

Cafetaria de Kimpel
Eikenlaan 25
3740 Bilzen

10h00 23h30
Price?
Free

Tuesday 10/11/2015:
After the Riot
The duo-exposition After the Riot with Virginie Bailly and Caroline Coolen takes place
at Meubart, design and Interior shop in Diest.
They worked together and made some fantastic modern sculptures. They also show
their work in other countries.
Where?

When?

Commissaris
Neyskenslaan 7
3290 Diest

10h00 18h00
Price?
Free

11

Wereld van herinnering: Alles vervaagt, behalve de verwondering: (World

of memories; everything fades except wonder)
World of memories displays the disease (dementia) as art.
There are a lot of taboos around the disease
and the organisation wants to show that the
mental illnes is not like everyone thinks, in a creative
way.
Eight people with dementia made a self portrait and they want to communicate with the
rest of the world in a different way then just
talking about it.

Where?
Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 28
3000 Leuven
(M - Museum Leuven)

When?
11h00 18h00
Price?
12

Sarah Morris
She makes paintings and movies about the codes and
the power structures in a city.
The most famous paintings are those of Paris, Rio de
Janeiro en Beijing. Her movies are about the Olympic
Games,
airports,
prostitution,..
Her paintings exist of graphic color compositions consisting of lines, patterns and grids.

Where?

When?

Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 28
3000 Leuven
(M - Museum Leuven)

11h00 18h00
Price?
12

12

Wednesday 11/11/2015:
(On)voltooid verleden tijd
Twenty-four artists give their vision on identity, layering
and memory.

Where?

When?

Universiteitsbibliotheek Leuven
Ladeuzeplein 21
3000 Leuven

10h00 17h00
Price?
Free

Restaurants
Nickys Catwalk
Grote Markt
3290 Diest
Pallieter
Staatsbaan 185
3290 Diest
De Modern
Leuvensesteenweg 93
3293 Kaggevinne
Pact 24 Grand Caf Brasserie
Staatsbaan 95
3450 Bekkevoort

13

Partners in this project

-

Students KTA2 DIEST : Tourism

Students KTA2 DIEST : Art

14

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