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Lier Attractions

Interregional Station (bicycle rental at station)

Location

The town of Lier (French Lierre), birthplace of the popular Flemish author Felix Timmermans (1886--1947) and other well known artists including the painter Isidoor Opsomer, is situated 17km/11 mi southeast of Antwerp at the confluence of the Grote and Kleine Nete. Lier is the gateway to the region of Kempen and is nicknamed "Lierke Plezierke" (Lively Lier), on account of its colorful folklore.

The economy of the town is based on the textile industry with its old and famous traditions of silk spinning, lace making and embroidery. Also important are some recently introduced industries including the manufacture of synthetic fibres and the production of building materials near the Nete canal, which provides a waterway between Lierand Antwerp for vessels up to 1350 tonnes. Many people commute daily between Lier and Antwerp.

Culinary specialties of the town are Lierse Vlaaikes (sweet tarts with candy).

The origins of the town can be traced back to a hermitage founded in 760. In the early Middle Ages the town was known for its cloth making and received its town charter as early as 1212. It was fortified in the late Middle Ages and its fortifications resisted all enemy attacks until 1784 when they were razed but rebuilt in 1830. During the First World War the town held a key strategic position and was often heavily shelled.
Read More Begijnhof
The Lier begijnhof is known to be one of the loveliest in the country, characterized by small cottages and narrow lanes.
Read More Sint-Gummaruskerk
The Sint-Gummaruskerk was started in the 15th C and took over 300 years to complete.
Read More Zimmertoren
The Zimmertoren is noted for its clock dating from the early 20th C that features an ornate façade.
Flea Market
A flea market is held on the Tramweglei.
Hours
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
OpenClosedClosedClosedClosedClosed13:00Closed
Close 18:00
Tips
First Saturday in the month only.
Typical Visit
1 hour
Grote Markt
In the center of the town is the Grote Markt, which was badly damaged during the German shelling of Antwerp, but its most important buildings survived.
Typical Visit
30 minutes
Meat Hall and Guild Houses
North of the stadhuis stands the Vleeshuis (meat hall) built in 1418, today an exhibition hall, and some notable guild houses such as the bakkerhuis (1717) and the Huis d'Eyckenboom (1721).
Typical Visit
10 minutes
Museum Timmermanns-Opsomer
The Timmermans-Opsomer Museum, situated to the right of the bridge over the Nete next to the Zimmertoren, commemorates four artists born in Lier. The first is the author Felix Timmermans, who was also active as a musician and painter; several rooms are dedicated to him and his works such as "Pallieter".

Also on view is the studio of the painter Baron Opsomer, van Boeckel's forge and memorabilia of the Flemish composer Renaat Veremans, who also composed texts for Felix Timmermans.
Hours
April 1 to October 31
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open10:0010:00Closed10:00Closed10:0010:00
Close12:0012:00 12:00 12:0012:00
Open13:3013:30 13:30 13:3013:30
Close17:3017:30 17:30 17:3017:30
November 1 to March 31
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
OpenClosedClosedClosedClosedClosedClosed10:00
Close 12:00
Open 13:30
Close 16:00
Typical Visit
1 hour
Museum Wuyts van Campen en Baron Caroly
Not far to the west of the market No. 14 Cauwenberghstraat houses the Museum Wuyts van Campen en Baron Caroly (Stedelijk Museum) which has a notable collection not only of Dutch and Flemish, but also of French and Spanish masters as well as contemporary works. Among the artists represented are Jan and Peter Bruegel the Younger, Rubens, van Dyck, Floris ("Berchem family"), Poussin, Lorrain and Murillo; the Modernists are represented by Permeke, de Vlaminck, de Braekeleer and Opsomer and de la Haye from Lier.
Hours
April 8 to November 30
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open10:0010:00Closed10:00Closed10:0010:00
Close12:0012:00 12:00 12:0012:00
Open13:3013:30 13:30 13:3013:30
Close17:3017:30 17:30 17:3017:30
Typical Visit
2 hours
Sint-Pieterskapel
Opposite the church of St Gommarus stands the Romanesque Sint-Pieters chapel, the oldest building in the town (1225).
Typical Visit
30 minutes
Spanish Chapel
Sint-Jacobskapel behind the town hall is also called the "Spanish Chapel" and originates from 1383.
Typical Visit
30 minutes
Town Hall and Belfry
On the east side of the square is the 18th C. stadhuis (town hall) with an attractive Roccoco staircase and beautifully decorated rooms. The adjoining Gothic belfry (1369) is all that remains of the medieval cloth hall.
The tower is a UNESCO site.
Typical Visit
20 minutes
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