Wommelgem: Fortress, Heritage and Trails

Wommelgem combines fortress history, sacred heritage and marked trails to create a diverse destination. At its heart is Fort 2, a protected brick fort covering an area of 33 hectares. It was built from 1859 to 1865 as part of Antwerp’s inner ring of fortifications. Those interested in military history, historic buildings and distinctive landscapes will find a strong starting point here for planning their trip.

Fort 2 and historic Wommelgem

The First and Second World War museums at Fort 2 include a gallery containing mainly 19th-century artillery pieces, themed rooms on the First and Second World Wars, and a themed room on V-weapons. This makes it possible to shape your visit from different historical perspectives. The site is also a wintering area for protected bats and forms part of the Natura 2000 network of European protected areas. Culture enthusiasts therefore experience not only a building here, but also the connection between fortress and nature.

There are two different ways to explore the local heritage. The Wommelgem Heritage Walk leads to the municipality’s 26 most important heritage sites. Those who prefer to explore the surroundings by bicycle can choose the Wommelgem Heritage Cycling Route. It highlights 22 heritage sites; at each location, a sign explains the history of the place. This allows you to plan your day around your preferred mode of transport and your personal interest in the individual sites, without having to commit to just one form of discovery.

Sacred Buildings and Historic Events

The churches and chapels also give Wommelgem a distinctive historical profile. The parish church of Sint-Petrus en Paulus preserves a Romanesque door dating from the 12th to the early 13th century in its sacristy. It also houses historic paintings and sculptures, as well as Baroque furnishings from the 17th and 18th centuries. The Sint-Janskapel is a Gothic brick-and-sandstone chapel from the early 16th century. It was probably enlarged in the 17th century and has a single-nave body and a three-sided eastern choir beneath a slate-covered gabled roof.

Certain dates bring this heritage particularly into focus. The Open Church Days take place annually on the first weekend of June and place Wommelgem’s religious heritage at the centre. Open Monument Day is held annually on the second Sunday in September; in Wommelgem, historic walks at Fort 2 are usually offered as part of the event. When planning your trip, such dates can determine your preferred focus, while the other sights continue to shape the townscape throughout the year.

Additional memorial sites add to the historical perspective. The memorial plaque at Veldgraf Selsaeten commemorates 13 Allied soldiers who were temporarily buried there. The Streekmuseum De Kaeck can be visited on special occasions such as the Fortengordel and Heritage Day, as well as by groups by appointment as part of a guided visit.

Trails for Active Exploration

Wommelgem’s municipal recreational hiking programme comprises four routes marked in different colours. Alongside the Heritage Walk, this provides another way to structure your stay on foot. Families can put together various ideas for a day out based on historical themes, museum content, sacred art, a hiking route and a cycling route. The best choice depends on your preferred pace of travel and personal interests.

If Fort 2, cultural heritage and the marked trails are to be the focus of your stay, a holiday apartment in Wommelgem is a suitable direction for your further planning. When choosing, focus above all on which experiences you would like to place at the centre of your trip. For a culturally oriented journey, the fortress museums, churches, chapels and event dates offer numerous possibilities; those who would like to include physical activity can also consider the Heritage Walk, the Heritage Cycling Route or one of the four recreational hiking routes.

For your further search for interesting places and destinations, you can also consider Nijlen, Schoten, Eindhout, Berlaar, Duffel, Sint-Amands, Schilde and Heist-Op-Den-Berg.

For the broader travel overview: Antwerp Province.