The best city hikes and walks in Binnenbos En Omgeving

Between 1831 and 1837, David was director of the Pitzemburg College in Mechelen. From 1834, he held the chair of Language and Literature, and from 1836, the chair of Dutch History at the Catholic University of Leuven. There, he was committed to promoting Dutch (Flemish) literature. In 1864, he became a member of the Spelling Commission, which officially recognized the unity of language in Flanders and the Netherlands. He contributed to the Groot Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal (Great Dictionary of the Dutch Language).

In Lier, there was a "St. James's Hospice" for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. In 1383, the city magistrate erected the St. James's Chapel next to the hospice. The pilgrim's symbol is the scallop shell, which can be found in bronze on the chapel's facade. After destruction during the religious wars, the chapel lost some of its pilgrimage function, but from the 17th century onward, it served as a parish church for the Spanish garrison stationed in Lier. Therefore, it is colloquially known as the "Spanish Chapel" by the people of Lier. The chapel contains a mural depicting coats of arms. Lier artist Bernard Janssens (1887-1976), folklorist, photographer, painter, etcher, restorer, and publicist, created this painting in 1926 in a blind pointed arch in the chapel. These are the coats of arms of the Spanish governors who governed the city of Lier.

The Nete Diversion Canal (also called the Diversion Canal) is a man-made canal that runs halfway around the city of Lier. It was originally intended to divert excess water from the Kleine Nete around Lier to relieve the lower-lying areas in the east of the city. The diversion canal begins at the Kleine Nete in the northeast of Lier and flows into the Nete in the south.

The Barvest is a restaurant and cafe located on the city walls. Since this section mainly features photos of the green belt that forms the city walls, which start and end here, here's some information. The city ramparts are a 5 km long green walk around the center of Lier. A section of the city ramparts is a protected landscape. The Lier city ramparts largely follow the route of the second city wall from the first half of the 15th century. At that time, the ramparts primarily served a military function, providing protection against enemy cannon fire and raids. But the ramparts also had an economic importance: import and export duties were collected at the city gates. In the 19th century, the ramparts no longer served a military purpose and were dismantled. The ramparts between the Spui and the city park (towards Mechelsepoort) were lowered and planted with trees. The section between the city park and the Spui (towards Leuvensepoort) followed later. These spacious walking paths, known as the Begijnenvest, Davidsvest, Bergmannvest, Spuivest, Sionsvest, and the towpath along the Leuvensevest, together with the city park, form the green lung of the city center. A section of the ramparts is a protected landscape. A regent's decree from 1949. Now you'll mainly find trees like linden, red and green beech, oak, whitebeam, but also special species like pagoda tree. There used to be many elm trees, but they disappeared due to a disease. You can also admire several statues. On Davidsvest, you can admire Cadetje, a statue that refers to the former cadet school on the opposite side. Near Frederik Peltzerstraat is the statue of Anton Bergmann (lawyer and man of letters). Canon J.B. David (historian and linguist) has had his statue near Antwerpsestraat since 1923. The Chapel of St. Rita, near Mechelsestraat, was erected in 1948 in memory of Lier's political prisoners. And more at https://lier.be/wonen-en-leven/natuur-milieu-en-duurzaamheid/recreatie/de-stadsvesten

Not exactly what I would usually call a highlight, but it is a beautiful spot, with the Kleine Nete on one side and the waters and green turf of the fishing club on the other.

The St. James' Chapel, also known as the "Spanish Chapel," was founded in 1383 by the magistrate at the St. James's Almshouse and dedicated to James the Greater. The chapel burned down completely in 1479, but was rebuilt shortly afterward and reconsecrated in 1582, following the religious unrest. During the 17th century, it served as a parish church for the Spanish troops (led by the Jesuits). After the French Revolution, it was temporarily designated as a Temple of Reason and—after the abolition of the Antwerp diocese—recognized as a parish church for the northern part of the city. In 1812, it was converted into an auxiliary church, as the city council deemed the St. Gummarus Church inadequate as a parish church. In the 19th century, the facade was restored, the interior renovated, and a new tower built. Severely damaged during the First World War (including all the furnishings), it was rebuilt in 1923 by the Lier contractor Florent D’Hulst, based on plans by the Leuven architect Frans Vandendael. Canon Raymond Lemaire, as a corresponding member of the Royal Commission for Monuments and Landscapes, strongly influenced this restoration. On February 20, 1939, the chapel was designated a protected monument by Royal Decree. The interior consists of a single-nave, plastered, and painted space, covered by a pointed barrel vault with brick transverse arches, and lit by pointed-arch windows. The five-bay nave is adjoined by a higher, single-bay choir with a three-sided nave and a radiating vault supported by consoles. In the second bay on the left is a blind pointed-arch window with painted shields of the Spanish city governors, signed "Bern. Janssens Fecit 1926". Inventory of Immovable Heritage: St. James's Chapel, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/10364

The meat house was located at this location from the beginning of the 15th century. According to C. Van Lom, the first building was constructed in 1418 by Selis de Laet "in wrought pots", covered with straw, and put into use in 1423. In 1451-1454, it was completely rebuilt with stone and roofed with slate. The building retained this function until the French Revolution. In the 19th century, it housed the "Société littéraire" and the drawing school. The basement was used for the police services, and the upper rooms for the justice of the peace. Around 1834, the building underwent a renovation to a plastered, five-bay, two-story facade under a steep hipped roof. However, as early as the end of the 19th century, the Royal Commission for Civil Engineering (KCM) approved restoration plans by city architect F.H. Cox. The building emerged relatively undamaged during the First World War, but the facade was subsequently demolished and rebuilt in 1920 in its original style based on plans by architect Gustave Careels. These designs were based on old iconographic images, such as a painting by Joos De Momper. This new facade also incorporated a memorial to the fallen fighters for the fatherland, by Antwerp sculptor Jan Gerrits. The stone lions on the balustrade of the steps come from the town hall. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Vleeshuis, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/10356

This is the northernmost section of the diversion canal, which is otherwise located mainly west of the city. "The diversion canal or bypass canal of the Nete was dug in 1860 west of Lier. The diversion canal is bordered by a wooded embankment or a row of trees and the towpath." Source and extensive historical information: Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Diversion Canal of the Nete and the Walk, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/300030