156 BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG REGION BY REGION
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp266–7 and pp292–4
The stately Kasteel Hertogen van Brabant, close to Turnhout’s Grote MarktBelgian political prisoners and
Jews during World War II.
Today, the grim, labyrinthine
interior has been converted
into a museum that reveals
the shocking events that took
place here. It pulls no punches
and even includes the role of
Flemish Nazis in this horror.Environs
Another fort in this group, Fort
Liezele is a museum covering
its military history from con-
struction to World War II.E Fort Liezele
Fortbaan 2, Puurs. Tel (03) 8895300.
# Apr–Oct: Sun and public holi-
days. & - http://www.fortliezele.bea range of light industries such
as printing. A rich collection
of historical artifacts on the
Kempen region is exhib ited in
the town’s Taxandria Museum.
Just to its north is the tranquil
Begijnhof, lined with houses
dating from the 16th and 17th
centuries. It also has a small
museum about béguinage life.
Turnhout was once a part
of Brabant and close to its
Grote Markt is the old centre
of power, the robust Kasteel
Hertogen van Brabant (Castle
of the Dukes of Brabant),
surrounded by a moat. Since
1826, the town has also been
famous as a manufacturer of
playing cards. A former card
factory here is now home to
the Na tionaal Museum van de
Speelkaart (National Playing
Card Museum), which exhibits
printing machines and histori-
cal cards dating from 1500.Environs
A popular theme park located
12 km (7 miles) to the south
of Turnhout, Bobbejaanland
has more than 50 thrilling
rides and live shows.E Taxandria Museum
Begijnenstraat 28. Tel (014)
2–5pm Tue–Sat,
11am–5pm Sun. &
E Begijnhof
Begijnhof 56 (museum). Tel (014)
2–5pm Tue–Sat,
11am–5pm Sun. & 7
E Nationaalmuseum van
de Speelkaart
Druivenstraat 18. Tel (014) 415621.
2–5pm Tue–Sat, 11am–5pm
Sun. &
Bobbejaanland
Olensteenweg 45, Kasterlee.
Tel (014) 557811. # end Mar–Oct;
see website for details. & 7 0
St-Amands 2
25 km (15 miles) SW of Antwerp.
Road Map C2. * 8,000. @ 4
n Het Veerhuis; (052) 256612.
http://www.sint-amands.be
Lying along a broad stretch
of the River Scheldt, the small
town of St-Amands is a popu-
lar destination for cyclists. It
is celebrated as the birthplace
of the Symbolist poet Emile
Verhaeren (1855–1916), who
lies buried, along with his
wife, under a black marble
tomb near the river. The town
has a collection of his manu-
scripts, early editions, paint-
ings and mementos, which
is presented beautifully at
the Provinciaal Museum Emile
Verhaeren. Verhaeren wrote
affectionately of a ferryman
who took people across the
river. The ferryman’s house,
Het Veerhuis has been restored
and is used for exhibitions.
Environs
Just to the north is a defunct
branch of the River Scheldt,
called the Oude Schelde, an
area of pretty countryside and
cycling routes. The Kasteel
van Bornem (Château Marnix
de Ste Aldegonde) is a
late 19th-century Neo-Gothic
château located by the river.
E Provinciaal Museum
Emile Verhaeren
E Verhaerenstraat 71. Tel (052) 330
Jul–mid-Sep: Tue–Sun; Mar–
Jun and mid-Sep–Oct: holidays.&
P Kasteel van Bornem
Kasteelstraat 34, Bornem. Tel (03)
Aug: 15 and last two
Sun; Sep: first two Sun. & http://www.
castlemarnixdesaintealdegonde.be
Photographs from the World War II
era on view at Memorial BreendonkMemorial
Breendonk 3
Brandstraat 57, Willebroek; 5 km (3
miles) S of Antwerp. Road Map C2.
Tel (03) 8607525. # daily. & 9
7 = http://www.breendonk.be
Prior to World War I, three
squat, moated fortresses were
built to the south of Antwerp
to protect the city. They were
militarily ineffective, but the
Nazis turned one of them,
Fort Breendonk, into a con-
centration camp for 3,500
Turnhout 4
42 km (26 miles) NE of Antwerp.
Road Map D1. * 40,000. £ @
n Grote Markt 44; (014) 443355.
http://www.turnhout.beCapital of the flat, marshy
heathland area known as the
Kempen, Turnhout thrives on