Diest, situated on both banks of the Demer in the transition zone between the fertile and hilly Hageland and the wooded Kempenland, is the market center of an intensively farmed area. The main products grown here are asparagus, early potatoes and vegetables. Diest, which received its charter in the second half of the 13th C., ranked among the most important towns in Brabant because of its famous cloth-making, an industry which has long since disappeared. It has been replaced by flour-milling and other branches of the food industry. From its rich history remarkable buildings and parts of the fortifications have been preserved. Diest is closely associated with the House of Orange-Nassau, to which the present day Queen of the Netherlands belongs. Like Breda in the Netherlands, Dillenburg in Germany and Orange in France Diest was the seat of the royal house. Its most important representative was Prince William I of Orange-Nassau, called William the Silent, who led the Dutch revolts against Spanish domination.
The Abdij Averbode is a working abbey, with some parts of the complex dating back to the 14th C. It contains a functioning printing press that produces daily newspapers.
The Grote Markt, the picturesque center of the Old Town, is framed by several beautiful patrician houses of the 16-18th C. In the south-west of the square is the pre-Classical Stadhuis (town hall) built in 1728.
Behind Sint-Sulpitiuskerk to the right in Ketelstraat is the Lakenhalle (cloth hall) from 1346, where the products of the Diest cloth industry were traded. Next to the hall stands the "Holle Griet", a 15th C. catapult.
St Jan Berchmans (1599-1621), patron saint of youth, is a native of Diest. The room in which he was born in the "Gulden Maan" house in Sint Jan Berchmanstraat near the Grote Markt has remained unchanged and is open to visitors.
Specially built with families in mind, the recreation center in Diest offers an open-air swimming pool, a white sand beach, mini-golf, boating, fishing and numerous sports activities to visitors.
Address: Halve Maan Provincial Recreation Center, Leopoldvest 48, B-3290 Diest, Belgium
In the Demerstraat which leads away from the right of the town hall are the refuges of the abbeys of von Tongerlo ("Het Spiker"; 16th C.) and von Averbode (15th C.)
Scherpenheuvel, 6km/4miles west of Diest is a popular place of pilgrimage. Seven paths lead to the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwkerk (Church of Our Lady) standing on high ground. This Baroque building shows strong Italian influence with an oriental cupola. It was built in 1609-1627 according to plans by W. Coebergher and marks the beginning of the Baroque style in present day Belgium. The interior houses beautiful paintings by Th. van Loon, a marble relief by F. Duquesnoy and a rich treasury.
The Sint-Katharinakerk (14th C.) in Brabant Gothic style has a brilliantly carved pulpit dating from 1671. Former monasteries, spitals and a hospital surround the church, all built between the 16th and 18th C.
In the midst of the market stands the noteworthy collegiate church of Sint Sulpitius, one of the finest examples of Brabant Gothic (Demer Gothic). It was built mainly in 1417-1534 using the characteristic reddish brown brick. The choir dates from 1320. The small tower, known as "mostaardpot" (mustard pot), has a carillon with 43 bells.
Sint-Sulpitiuskerk Interior
The church houses interesting works of art including superb carvings on the pulpit, altars and confessionals. In the choir can be seen magnificent Late-Gothic choir stalls dated 1491 and the tomb of Philip of Orange-Nassau, who died in 1618; the font of St Jan Berchmann in the right side aisle and the treasure in a room adjoining the choir also warrant close examination. The main altar (18th C.) is by Michael van der Vorst; before it on the right is a work of the Antwerp school "Worship of the Kings".
Behind the béguinage extend the former 19th C. double fortifications of Brialmont with the Schaffense Post gate on the left. Leopoldsvest street follows the line of the fortifications with a good view of the béguinage. To the south it leads to the 18th C. Lindenmolen.
Within the ring of the Leopoldsvest lies the Warandepark, part of the former hunting lodge of the Princes of Orange-Nassau. Opposite the main entrance of the park stands the Nassau residence (1516), a brick building with a typical gable and octagonal tower.
Behind Sint-Sulpitiuskerk Koning Albertstraat heads north, off which branches Schaffensestraat where the 16th C. Watermolen van Oranje (water mill) presents a charming scene by the canal.
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Abdij Averbode
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Scherpenheuvel, Belgium
Diest
