The best city hikes and walks in Kravaalbos En Omgeving

Originally a barn (which is hard to imagine), today a restaurant.

The Administrative Center stands out with its façade screen of vertical slats, a sleek rhythm of colored strips that serves as both sun protection and an architectural statement. The slats resemble hanging fabric swatches, a deliberate reference to the former spinning mill on this site.

Very colorful and striking in the streetscape

On Graanmarkt, opposite the entrance to the former Pupillenschool, stands the impressive war memorial for alumni, troop children, and army pupils. The monument was erected to commemorate the school's 75th anniversary and was officially inaugurated on July 23, 1922, by Prince Leopold. Unlike many other memorials, this one was designed on a grand scale, thanks in part to a specially established national committee. The unveiling was accompanied by fierce reactions in the press at the time: while some were proud of the tribute, others criticized the "militaristic display." Originally, the monument was surrounded by an iron chain between posts shaped like shells. Today, it stands within a semicircular flowerbed, giving it a prominent place in the cityscape.

At the Werf in Aalst stands the memorial to Father Daens, ceremonially unveiled in 1957, exactly 50 years after his death. Designed by Marc De Bruyn, the statue depicts Daens among workers and a mother with her child – a symbol of the hope and comfort he brought to the working class. The inscription on the monument reads: “Neither a slave nor a beggar may be a worker. He must be a free and prosperous man.” Financed by his followers, this monument remains a powerful tribute to the social struggle and ideals of Father Daens (1839–1907).

This granite monument consists of two parts. On one side, you see a black circle in a green bird's nest, symbolizing a protective atmosphere. The other side features a woven pattern of hop plants, which refers to the region's rich hop culture and the solidarity among its inhabitants.

Construction on the Gothic St. Martin's Church began in the late fifteenth century and lasted until 1660, beginning with the choir, the oldest part. In the 1800s, the church, until then the only parish church in Aalst, was restored in a neo-Gothic style. Medieval murals were later rediscovered. A fire in 1947 led to extensive restoration. The church is currently undergoing restoration, but it can still be visited.

Aalst Town Hall consists of two historical sections. The former Manor House, dating from 1643-1645 and partially rebuilt in the rococo style in the 18th century, is situated in the inner courtyard. The neoclassical wing, designed by architect Louis Roelandt in 1828, boasts the focal point of the banquet hall, on the Grote Markt. Between 1987 and 2009, the complex underwent a thorough restoration and was designated a protected monument in 1991. Today, it remains an important historical landmark in the city – although the inner courtyard is closed on Sundays.