Belgium and Luxembourg (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

CENTRAL AND EASTERN FLANDERS 167

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Rescued, transported to and preserved in a
large park of woodland and pasture, the Bokrijk
Openluchtmuseum, or Open-air Museum, is a
fascinating collection of over a 100 historic rural
buildings from across Flanders. Grouped by their
regional origins, the buildings are open, revealing
dimly lit interiors full of authentic fur niture, fur-
nishings and tools. Staff in traditional costume
demonstrate crafts such as spinning and baking,
and help create a convincing image of what daily
life was like in rural Flanders before 1900.

Bokrijk Openluchtmuseum d

The old

town

Agricultural Architecture

This 16th-century farmhouse is

built in the style familiar from

Brueghel’s paintings. The wind-

mill dates from 1788 and still

contains the original millstones.

Interior Features
Most buildings here have original
interior features, such as
18th-century fireplaces
with Delft tiles that
depict scenes
from the Bible.

Grain Store

This timber-framed

spijker (grain store),

dates from the 16th

century. The build-

ing is from Limburg

province, where it

probably formed

part of a brewery.

Village Priest

Many of Bokrijk’s

costumed workers

are on hand to

explain what life

was like in the

pre-industrial

rural areas.

The fertile uplands:

Limburg, Haspengouw

and the Maasland

The fertile
lowlands:
East and
West Flanders

The poor

heathlands or

the Kempen

VISITORS’ CHECKLIST

Domein Bokrijk, Bokrijklaan 1,

Genk; 8 km (5 miles) E of

Hasselt. Road Map E2. Tel (011)

265300. £ @ # late Mar–
        Sep: 10am–6pm daily. & 7 0

• = http://www.funinbokrijk.be