Heritage rail organisation PFT-TSP has confirmed that its Weihnachtsmarkt-Express will run again this winter, offering passengers a festive rail journey from Belgium to Aachen (Aken, Aix-la-Chapelle) in Germany on Saturday 13 December 2025. The special train, which will call Vilvoorde, Antwerp-Central, Lier and Hasselt, will provide a direct and comfortable connection to Aachen Hauptbahnhof –…
Tag: Lier
BELGIUM | Meise Botanic Garden
During the Ascension weekend in May 2025, Jeroen and I visited the Meise Botanic Garden. World famous in Belgium, but I had never been.
Antwerp-Berchem Railway Station up for major revamp
Antwerp-Berchem Railway Station and its surroundings are set for a major renovation, beginning with the refurbishment of the railway bridge over the Ring in August 2028 and 2029, Het Nieuwsblad reports. The City of Antwerp is participating in a study on a new station building and the redevelopment of the surrounding area.
Flanders wants to revive Iron Rhine between the Port of Antwerp and Ruhr Region
Flemish Minister of Mobility and Public Works Annick De Ridder (N-VA), formerly Alderman for the Port in Antwerp, aims to revive the rail connection between the Port of Antwerp and Germany’s Ruhr region. Once a new German government is in place, she plans to restart discussions with the Netherlands and Germany to move the long-standing…
BELGIUM | Fête du Rail at Rétrotrain, Saint-Ghislain
August 2024. Two weekends in a row, we experienced some Belgian railway heritage. On the 11th, we went to Baasrode-Noord for the Dendermonde – Puurs Steam Railway or Stoomtrein Dendermonde-Puurs over line 52. On the 17th, we travelled all the way to Saint-Ghislain for a special ride over freight railway line 100, organised by Le…
Farewell to Mortsel-Deurnesteenweg
From Sunday 15 December 2024, there will be no more Mortsel-Deurnesteenweg Railway Station. The physical station, with rails and platforms, remains, but will henceforth be known as part of Mortsel Railway Station.
NETHERLANDS | Helmond Castle
It’s very rare Dennis, Danny and I can spend a full day together, due to our very clashing work schedules. Recently, this was possible though. So Dennis proposed an excursion to Helmond in the province of North Brabant. Helmond has the largest moated castle of the Netherlands.
REVIEW | Restaurant Neon in Lier
In October 2023, the ‘education crew’ of Frank, Steve, Philippe and Nicolas, and myself (not an educator), dined at Restaurant Neon in Lier. Located in a former school, Neon prides itself of sourcing local ingredients.
Leuven ft. the Great Beguinage
In January 2023, Thanh and I went to Leuven to watch Thanh’s niece perform in a play called ‘Wezen‘ (‘Being‘) by Fabuleus at OPEK. Making the best of a Sunday afternoon, we walked around Leuven, visiting the Great Beguinage, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
REVIEW | Hotel Guzy, Antwerpsestraat, Lier
For New Year’s Eve 2022 – 2023, Steve and I spent the weekend in Lier, his childhood hometown. We had a dinner party at Philippe‘s but stayed at Guzy, a relatively new hotel. Before dinner, Steve and I explored the medieval town of Lier.
Trip By Trip 