The best city hikes and walks around Grote Geule

The Sint-Jozefkerk of Nieuw Namen was taken into use in 1860, shortly after the founding of the village. In 1898 the church was expanded, in 1912 a new tower was built, and in 1923 the side aisles were extended. In front of the church is a bronze Sacred Heart statue from around 1920, made by P. de Roeck. source: Wikipedia

The silhouette of a walking man is a work (from 2010) by the Melsele-based artist Stefaan van Biesen (°1953), titled "Grenzer"; it is therefore not by chance that it stands on the Belgian-Dutch border. The man walks through a screen, a transit zone from one area to another. He is a passer-by, on his way between two worlds. The work refers both to borders in our minds, limitations to our freedom, but also to how that freedom is only real freedom when it is not at the expense of our fellow human beings... and to how topographical borders have been conceived by the same freedom-seeking human. ... the artist himself explains his work. (see etcetera.plus)

The demarcation of the Belgian-Dutch border came about after the Treaty of Maastricht in 1843. Border post number 1 is located at the Drielandenpunt in Vaals, the last post, border post number 365, is in the Zwin west of Retranchement in Zeeland-Flandres. Here, between Kieldrecht (B) and Nieuw-Namen (NL) is number 271.

An audiovisual tour of the Sint-Martinuskerk is available. It was developed in 2024 as part of a bachelor's thesis by a young teacher from Bever. Download the Erfgoedapp; select "Sint-Martinuskerk" via the compass symbol and then enter the number of the item you want to learn more about. You can find these numbers in a brochure available at the back of the church. The walk starts outside at the intersection of Kloosterstraat and Kasteeldreef. At the back of the church, there is also a comprehensive brochure explaining the architecture and art treasures in the church.

Already on the oldest maps of Beveren (17th century), a drinking place for cattle in the form of a pond/well (cattle pit) is indicated on the market square in front of the church, the former village green. Later this becomes a pump: a bluestone construction on a square floor plan; a pedestal topped with a heavy decorative vase. On one side of the column, a water spout worked as a lion's head is located above a semicircular water reservoir Sources: plannen.onroerenderfgoed.be and Inventaris Onroerend Erfgoed

The model was placed here in 2020. A with on the back of the model, so that it is also visible.

Since a thorough renovation, the white castle on Anna Piersdreef is shining like never before. Very remarkable about this building: the chapel is attached to the castle. This immediately explains the other name for this historic site: Oud Geestelijk Hof. Even today, the social factor of the orphanage is still present. Directly opposite the castle building, there are still - albeit in more recent buildings - service centers for special youth care and other care facilities. But the castle site itself is now mainly Erfgoedhuis. You can visit the Erfgoedhuis on Wednesday afternoons and Sunday afternoons, each from 2 PM to 5 PM. The showpiece of the building is the 18th-century chapel, which has been restored to its full glory, including wooden benches, a confessional, and an organ. Furthermore, here you travel through 700 years of history of Beveren and its sub-municipalities, through a monument that successively served as a knight's residence, pleasure palace, monastery, school, and orphanage. A timeline makes everything clear, and on the top floor, the 'Heemkundige Kring Het Land van Beveren' organizes temporary exhibitions on history and heritage. Interesting for art lovers: the building also houses the municipal art collection and is open for exhibitions. Associations can meet in the beautiful chapel. As early as the Middle Ages, there was a moated farm with a central courtyard on the current site of Hof ter Welle. During the Renaissance, it became a stately castle and took on its current form. The owner of the domain was the Vilain XIIII family, whom we also know from Wissekerke Castle in Bazel. But in 1723, the property was purchased by Anna Piers, who renamed it Oud Geestelijk Hof. The castle was converted into an orphanage for girls, and the chapel was also added during that period. In 1988, the last nuns left the premises. The service center Hof Ter Welle vzw took over the tasks and developed services in new buildings, but the castle stood abandoned in the meantime. In 2017, the Erfgoedhuis opened, and Hof Ter Welle began a new life. Hof Ter Welle should not be confused with Cortewalle, which can be found a bit further north in Beveren. Source: waasland.be

In 1844, the first section of the Antwerp-Ghent line was put into use: the route from Antwerp to Sint-Niklaas, on which Beveren also became a stop. No images are known of the first station building. The current station building dates from 1901, when the State took over the line - originally operated by private companies. The existing station was then replaced by its own design; here the Type 1895 R9. In the long right wing of the building, there was a signal box until June 2012, the function of which has since been taken over by the signal box of Antwerp-Berchem. The ticket office function of the station was discontinued in 2021, but the waiting room remains accessible. On platform 1, there is a ticket machine. Source: Wikipedia