Bornem between castle culture and the Scheldt landscape

Bornem combines an impressive history of castles with the varied landscape along the Scheldt. Anyone looking for a blend of culture, waterways, museums and active days during their holiday will find several different points of interest here. When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home, the desired daily activities are therefore particularly relevant: should the focus be on historical sightseeing, hiking trails and waterways, or on a cycling tour through Klein-Brabant?

Castles and historic sites

A striking landmark is the present-day Kasteel Marnix de Sainte-Aldegonde. Surrounded by moats on both sides, the castle was built in 1894 and shows influences of Neo-Gothic architecture. A guided visit is available at Kasteel van Bornem, combining the castle, the carriage museum and the experience centre. At the experience centre, you can learn more about the history of the castle, its residents and the Kasteeldomain.

Kasteel d’Ursel in Hingene, Bornem, also has its own distinctive character. The traditional moated castle has a park with a Renaissance-style garden and French gardens. De Notelaer, a pavilion that once belonged to the d’Ursel family estate, is located on the Scheldt dike. Today, De Notelaer serves cyclists and hikers as both a starting point and a destination. This makes it possible to appeal to different interests when planning a trip, without having to force castle visits and outdoor activities into a single programme.

Museums, crypt and distinctive local history

The Abdij van Bornem houses an inclusive museum concept. Its features include tactile exhibits and information panels, sound and scent evocations, as well as specially developed audio guidance or a tour supported by a sign-language assistant. Those who enjoy discovering history through different forms of perception will find an unusual approach here.

Under the choir of the parish church Onze-Lieve-Vrouw en Sint-Leodegarius lies the Romanesque Crypte Onze-Lieve-Vrouw. It was already mentioned in 1252 as an old pilgrimage site and contains the marble tomb of Pedro Coloma. At the regional museum De Zilverreiger in Weert, Bornem, the focus is instead on traditional crafts from Klein-Brabant, including basket weaving, Scheldt fishing and clog making. The Sas van Bornem adds to the historical themes: it is considered Belgium’s oldest surviving mechanical lock and was built between 1589 and 1592.

Oude Scheldt and routes through the landscape

The Oude Scheldt is a 6 km-long side arm of the Scheldt covering an area of 115 ha. The Eendenkooi op de Oude Schelde is part of the protected Oude Schelde landscape and is considered Europe’s oldest surviving duck decoy. The duck decoy thus combines a distinctive historical designation with a landscape area that makes Bornem’s connection to the water visible.

Bornem is part of Nationaal Park Scheldevallei and belongs to the UNESCO Global Geopark Schelde Delta. The Het Graafschap estate surrounds Kasteel van Bornem, also known as Kasteeldomein Marnix de Sainte-Aldegonde, and is a varied landscape with hiking trails. When planning a holiday, you can therefore alternate between cultural highlights and excursions into the countryside.

There is also a specific option for cyclists: the green loop of the Klein-Brabant mountain bike route is 32.93 km long and starts at Zwembad Breeven in Bornem. Those planning a longer active excursion can take this route into account when choosing accommodation and organising their day. Anyone who prefers a more relaxed pace can instead focus on the castle, museum, crypt or historic sites by the water.

Bornem as a starting point for planning your trip

The variety of sites makes Bornem a destination where a holiday day can be shaped in different ways: with the history of castles and gardens, regional crafts, a Romanesque crypt, mechanical technology or routes through the Scheldt landscape. When looking for a holiday apartment in Bornem, it is worth defining your personal priorities first and then choosing the accommodation that best suits your own travel rhythm.

Further destinations for independent trip planning: Zoersel, Boom, Retie, Oud-Turnhout, Brasschaat, Aartselaar, Wommelgem, Zandhoven.

For the overarching travel overview: Province of Antwerp.