On Open Monuments Day on 8 September 2024 the former Museum Ridder Smidt van Gelder on the Belgiëlei or Belgium Avenue in Antwerp exceptionally opened its doors. This townhouse, hôtel particulier or stadspaleis is also known as Hotel Thijs.
Tag: Architecture
ANTWERP | Restoration of the tower and carillon of the Borgerhout district house
After the thorough renovation work on the interior of the Borgerhout District Hall, the restoration of the tower and the carillon will start. The work will start at the end of 2025.
SEOUL 2024 | Dongdaemun Design Plaza
Autumn 2024. Ten years after my first trip to Seoul in 2014, I am returning to the Republic of Korea, better known as South Korea. Not solo this time, but with Oriol, who has never been to Korea. On the itinerary: flying with Qatar Airways to Incheon via Doha, the capital Seoul, the historic city…
OVERTOURISM | Alternatives for Venice, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Santorini, Paris, Dubrovnik, London and Rome?
Overtourism was an issue in 2024 and still is in 2025. An increasing number of cities, grappling with the less appealing aspects of mass tourism, are implementing measures to curb the influx of visitors. One strategy is not to go to these hotspots, but to find alternatives. And if we all do that, those alternatives…
GERMANY | Bauhaus in Dessau
October 2024. During a week-long whistle-stop tour of Germany, we visit Dessau-Roßlau in Saxony-Anhalt, Weimar in Thuringia, Coburg in Upper Franconia (Bavaria) and Kassel in Hesse. Smaller cities, yes. But each with their own significance. Untouched by overtourism. We’re avoiding using the white trains of DB Fernverkehr, Deutsche Bahn‘s long-distance section and opt to use…
ANTWERP | Top Boerentoren to be restored to 1930 look unless new plans are approved
The Council of Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Antwerp approved on Friday 14 March the demolition of the top floors of the Boerentoren or Farmers’ Tower, including the section bearing the (in)famous KBC logo, Gazet van Antwerpen reports. The decision, taken for safety reasons, allows owner Fernand Huts to proceed with the removal…
TRI-COUNTRY TRAIN | Taking a peek at Heerlen and Aachen
After years of being in the pipeline, the (in)famous Tri-Country Train started running in the summer of 2024. Operated by Arriva and with NMBS / SNCB personnel on the Belgian side of the route, the Drielandentrein, Dreiländerzug or Train des trois pays connects Liège in the eponymous province in Belgium to Maastricht in the province…
ANTWERP | ‘Fashion & Interiors. A Gendered Affair.’ from 29 March to 3 August at MoMu fashion museum
On 29 and 30 March 2025, Antwerp fashion museum MoMu kicks off its spring exhibition with tours, workshops, a talk on women in design, and more. ‘Fashion & Interiors. A Gendered Affair.‘ explores the relationship between fashion and interiors from a gender perspective.
City of Antwerp presents design proposals for Meir redevelopment
The City of Antwerp selected five design teams for the large-scale redevelopment of the Meir, the city’s most famous shopping street. They have submitted their design proposals. The city is now presenting these designs to the people of Antwerp and is organizing a survey.
Flanders selects Bovenbouw Architectuur and Christ & Gantenbein as architects for M HKA museum of contemporary art
The Flemish Government has appointed Belgian firm Bovenbouw Architectuur and Swiss studio Christ & Gantenbein to design the ambitious new building for the Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp (M HKA).
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