Discover Hemiksem: Abbey, Museums and Historic Trails

Hemiksem combines an impressive industrial and local history with walking trails, museums and the landscape around the Scheldt. Those planning a trip with cultural discoveries and different types of walks will find many specific points of interest here to help them choose accommodation. A holiday apartment in Hemiksem can serve as a base for days on which you switch between abbey history, crafts, architecture and historic defensive structures.

Abbey History and Expansive Park Grounds

An important landmark of the town is Sint-Bernardus Abbey. Cistercian monks began building it in 1244 and fired the first so-called Paepesteen bricks there in field and clamp kilns. In the Middle Ages, the abbey was a religious and cultural centre. Today, the approximately 14-hectare park surrounding Sint-Bernardus Abbey is also part of the visitor experience. In the newly designed grounds, you can take a walk and combine a visit to the historic site with time outdoors.

The history of the abbey can be supplemented in Hemiksem with further evidence of the local past. The Heemmuseum Ontrent den Hover presents life in times gone by – from crafts and archaeology to monastic life and printing. The exhibits include a model of the abbey, a 1950s classroom, tools from printing works and brickworks, as well as finds from the soil of Hemiksem. The museum also includes an operational printing works, a shoemaker's workshop, a carpentry workshop, a forge and a model brickworks with drying sheds. This creates a vivid connection between historical objects, working life and local history for families.

Tiles, Art and Memorial Sites

The Gilliot & Roelants Tile Museum focuses on another defining aspect of Hemiksem. It displays tiles, moulds, watercolour designs, wage books and historical photographs from the Gilliot factory. The Pozzo tile collection, assembled by Roberto Pozzo, comprises more than 9,000 objects. The majority of the works in the historic collection are by Joseph Roelants. Those interested in design, industrial production and historical everyday culture can make this a particular focus of their day.

The Gilliot Trail starts at the Gilliot & Roelants Tile Museum and leads past numerous places of interest as a walking route. Another highlight is the Hemiksemhof Castle Estate: it is home to a particularly monumental ice cellar, one of the few well-preserved examples dating from the late 18th century. Most of the walking trails shown on the 1903 topographical map have been preserved. Schans XVIII is part of a series of 18 small forts built between 1906 and 1912 between the older Brialmont forts. The fort is in good condition; however, on its northern side, its integration into an industrial area means it is no longer in its original context.

Historic memorial sites can also be found throughout the townscape. The war memorial by Alfons De Cuyper stands in the middle of Gemeenteplein on a landscaped area in front of the church. A female figure honours the fallen soldier there. The Vredesvogel was designed as a direct artistic representation of Hemiksem's existing war memorial. It is made of glazed ceramic and has a durable surface. The Gemeentehuis van Hemiksem complements the architectural tour: the detached, slightly L-shaped semi-detached building in the eclectic style with Renaissance elements was built in 1910–1911 to a design by François Van Rompaey.

Hemiksem as a Base for Planning Your Trip

For travelling to and connecting with Antwerp, the Waterbus is an important practical reference point. It has operated between Hemiksem and Antwerp since 1 July 2017, stopping in Kruibeke along the way. The Hemiksem ferry landing is located on the banks of the Scheldt at the extension of Callebeekstraat. When looking for a holiday apartment, you can therefore consider whether you want to focus your stay primarily on Hemiksem's cultural history, walking trails or the connection with Antwerp. The areas of focus mentioned offer different ways to experience the town, without requiring you to commit to a single daily programme.

If you would like to compare other places for planning your trip, you can find a concise overview here: Lille, Schilde, Malle, Geel, Lier, Herselt, Rijmenam and Brasschaat.

For the higher-level travel overview: Province of Antwerp.