Attractions

During the trip, the qualified regional guide will explain the history of the canals, the discovery of white sand and its applications, the Sibelco sand miner, the lakes and the accompanying re-purposing activities. We will pass through several locks, and watch how the boat is able to bridge height differences up to a few metres. If there is enough time, we ...

The wooded area of the 15 Kapellekens once inspired the entire paining school of Jakob Smits and Dirk Baksteen. The 15 Kappelekens is an outdoor Way of the Cross.

The Postelvaartje was actually dug in order to provide irrigation for the fields. The 'obelisk' is in fact an old border post. At that time, it marked the point where seven lordly domains met. These were Bergeijk, Luykgestel, Mol, Balen, Lommel, Dessel and Postel.

In medieval times, the plague, called the Black Death by locals, regularly raged in this region, as elsewhere in Europe. Entire generations died of this incurable and highly contagious disease. In order to try and stop the spread of this terrible disease, moribund infected villagers were locked into so-called 'plague houses'.

The Rauw pit has four large artificial floating islands. Sand mining company Sibelco and the local authority worked together on a new environmental development project for the large lake.

'The people in Mol should aim higher! Their church has a tower but no spire!' This old mocking verse has a kernel of truth, as tends to be the case, but also some untruth and a hint of envy. It refers to the poor stump which now tops our massive Kempen church tower and makes us think back with nostalgia to the beautiful spire that used to crown the building....

The windmill is the last remaining of the seven windmills that our town once boasted. It was built in 1856 by windmill builder Karel Heylen from Geel. In 1913 it was cemented and plastered. In the 1950s the windmill was badly damaged during a storm and was sold. The new owners were the SCK and the local authority.

After mounting 217 steps you find yourself at a height of 37 metres where you can enjoy a fantastic view of the region.

Up to the beginning of the eighteenth century, there were regular outbreaks of the plague in our region. The plague chapel of Millegem dates from the turn of that century. People came to pray there to be spared by contagious diseases.

The burial place of the great artist Jakob Smits is located at the Achterbos cemetery. His most famous pupils Dirk Baksteen and Paula Zenke are also buried here.

At the end of the nineteenth century St Anthony of Padua was highly popular as the patron saint of lost property. The chapel was built in 1898 and due to its popular dedication was a much-visited place of worship.

This is a so-called lourdes grotto to the north east of the church. It is constructed from imitation rock (construction grade concrete), with an in-built altar recess. The grotto was built by the firm of Janssens and Sons from Westmeerbeek and was inaugurated in 1936.

If you look carefully, you will spot the oldest stone border post in de Kempen. This unusual boulder is documented to date from 1417. It marks the border between Meerhout, Mol and Geel. The stone is inscribed with the letters M and G, for Mol and Geel. So what about Meerhout?