Summary
The inhabitants of Lier are commonly referred to as Schapekoppen (literally translating to ‘sheep heads’), a historic term from the 14th century that has evolved into a badge of honor.
The narrative recounts that in the early 14th century, John II, Duke of Brabant, expressed gratitude to Lier for its support in his conflict with the City of Mechelen. He offered the citizens the choice between establishing a university or a livestock market. When they opted for the latter, he remarked, “Oh, those unfortunate sheep heads.” Lier boasts two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the labyrinthine lanes of the 13th-century beguinage and the 14th-century belfry integrated with the town hall.
Among Lier’s prominent figures is the celebrated astronomer and master clockmaker Louis Zimmer (1888-1970), whose centenary clock and astronomical clock situated on Zimmerplein can captivate viewers for hours.
1. Begijnhof Lier
The historic religious community for widows and unmarried women in Lier dates back to the early 13th century. The residents, known as beguines, took vows of obedience and purity, though not of poverty.
These women lived independently, and those requiring an income often found work in weaving, embroidery, or lace-making. Begijnhof Lier is one of the 13 UNESCO-listed Flemish beguinages and comprises 162 houses connected by 11 small alleys.
Visitors enter the neighborhood via Begijnhofstraat, passing through an impressive Baroque gate made of blue-black limestone from 1690, featuring a statue of Saint Begga dating back to 1770. Most of the current houses were rebuilt in the 17th and 18th centuries, with the last beguine leaving in 1984. Central to Begijnhof Lier is a church, constructed in the 1600s and 1700s. While exploring the alleys, one might encounter an infirmary (now residential apartments) and a former school for novices.
2. Stadhuis
Lier’s venerable town hall predates its 18th-century Rococo facade significantly. Originally built as a cloth hall in 1367, it served at a time when Lier’s cloth industry thrived. By 1418, it was exclusively utilized as a town hall, and with the needs of the building arising by the 1730s, renovations were undertaken by the Rococo architect Jan Pieter van Baurscheidt de Jonge (1699-1768). Visitors can enter as Lier’s tourist information office is located within the former council chamber.
Take note of the ornate oak spiral staircase and the beautifully painted canvas ceiling, which depicts angels, virtues, and vices relocated from the Bishop’s Palace in Antwerp. The UNESCO-listed belfry on the north side was constructed independently in 1369 and symbolizes Lier’s independence and liberty. In medieval times, it housed the city’s arsenal and documents pertaining to Lier’s privileges.
The current carillon, featuring 23 bells, was added in 1971 and chimes every 15 minutes.
3. Zimmer Tower
Louis Zimmer, the esteemed astronomer and royal clockmaker born in Lier, created the Jubelklok (Jubilee or Centenary Clock), which he presented to the city in 1928 to commemorate 100 years of Belgian independence. This remarkable timepiece features an outer ring displaying, among other elements, lunar phases, the solar cycle, weekly and monthly cycles, tidal information, as well as the epact and equation of time.
At noon, the clock reveals the dates 1830-1930, alongside the coats of arms of Belgium and Lier, along with images of Belgium’s first three kings and the six mayors following independence. Additionally, there are four automatons symbolizing the four stages of life. The impressive clock has been installed on the wall of what used to be the Cornelius Tower from the 15th century, part of Lier’s medieval fortifications. This tower was designated a protected monument in 1980.
4. ZimmerMuseum
In 1960, a pavilion was established next to the Zimmer Tower in the square, constructed to display another of Zimmer’s masterpieces, an immense astronomical clock created for the Brussels World Exhibition in 1935. The Astronomical Clock stands nearly five meters tall and weighs more than 2,000 kilograms.
This remarkable clock boasts 93 dials, one of which features one of the slowest revolving mechanical hands in existence, completing a revolution every 25,800 years. Albert Einstein lauded Zimmer for this creation when he observed the clock at the 1939 New York World’s Fair. The museum explores themes such as time and space, housing a collection of Zimmer’s smaller timepieces and various tools he employed in the fabrication of his remarkable devices.
5. Stadsmuseum Lier
Established in 1892, Lier’s city museum boasts an extensive collection of paintings from the region, spanning the years between the 1500s and 1900s. The museum’s inception was aided by a significant bequest, which was enhanced by another donation in the 1930s. The selected location was an 18th-century townhouse that received a neo-Gothic renovation in the late 19th century.
The most valuable works of fine art and decorative arts are displayed in the lavish Salon, featuring paintings by masters such as Peter Paul Rubens, Pieter Brueghel the Younger, Frans Floris, and an early piece by Murillo recognized only in 2009. Additional exhibits offer historical perspectives of Lier through landscapes and maps, highlight the city’s traditional crafts, address the contributions of religious communities to education and health care, and celebrate the influential figures who have shaped Lier’s reputation.
A particularly fascinating artifact is the preserved skeleton of a mammoth, the first of its kind discovered in Western Europe, excavated in 1860 at the current site of the city hall.
6. Sint-Gummaruskerk
Sint-Gummaruskerk, a remarkable example of Brabantine Gothic architecture, was constructed in stages over nearly two centuries beginning in the 1370s. A significant wedding ceremony was conducted here in 1496, uniting Philip I of Castile (the first Habsburg monarch in Spain) with Joanna of Castile. For this occasion, a set of five stained glass windows was crafted for the choir, which remain intact and unique in the region.
This church contains an exceptional collection of original Gothic and Renaissance stained glass, a rarity in Belgium. Additionally, visitors should admire the exquisite Colibrant triptych (1516) by Goswin van der Weyden, the early-Baroque pulpit (1640-42), and the intricately carved 16th-century rood screen that separates the choir from the nave.
Another notable treasure is the grand silver reliquary for Saint Gummarus, which is taken out and paraded through Lier on the feast of Saint Gummarus, celebrated on the first Sunday following 10 October.
7. Gevangenenpoort (Prison Gate)
The Prison Gate is the last remaining structure from Lier’s medieval inner ramparts, erected in 1375. From the 1500s until 1930, this building functioned as a prison, thus its name. In 1728, the Gothic architecture was remodelled with a Classical design, introducing a rounded arch on the north side along with triangular pediments atop. However, the outer southern side facing Zimmerplein still retains its original Gothic pointed arch.
Niches above the portal feature sculptures of Saint Roch and Saint Margaret.
8. Spuihuis
Situated a short walk from Sint-Gummaruskerk, the Spuihuis is a former lock house adjacent to the Binnennete, a closed-off section of the Kleine Nete River that flows through Lier. Dating back to the 16th century, it represents an interesting aspect of the city’s historical water management system.
During floods, the lock would close to redirect the Kleine Nete via a channel away from Lier and into the Grote Nete, another tributary of the Neter River. The architectural style features the alternating bands of brick and stone that are characteristic of Renaissance design. Following restoration, the Spuihuis is now available for event rentals and serves as the venue for Lier’s Sociëteit van de Schaepshoofden, which organizes significant cultural events throughout the city.
9. Vleeshuis
Located on Grote Markt, the Vleeshuis is a historic guild hall for Lier’s butchers, established in 1418. Over the years, it has also served as a cloth hall, a courthouse, and a city prison. The facade has undergone many alterations, with the current neo-Gothic design emerging just after the First World War.
Currently functioning as an exhibition space, it holds numerous intriguing details for those who know where to look. The lions located by the stairs originally belonged to the adjacent Stadhuis. Additionally, a small plaque on the paving in front marks the site of the “Verloren Kost,” a vaulted medieval well uncovered during the square’s renovation in 2012. Along with this, remnants of a bricked-up entrance to the Vleeshuis’s cellars were excavated below the present level of Grote Markt.
10. Kinderboerderij ‘t Struisvogelnest
Located south of the city, Kinderboerderij ‘t Struisvogelnest is a quintessential children’s farm, featuring amiable farm animals and playground facilities. This establishment is unique in that it remains open year-round and hosts various animals, including goats, chickens, cows, sheep, donkeys, horses, rabbits, as well as some unexpected species like emus, ostriches, alpacas, and a rare woolly pig.
Alongside these, there is an apiary and an insect hotel. Children can enjoy slides, bouncy castles, and pedal carts, while adults have the option to relax on a comfortable terrace.
11. Stadspark
Partially situated on the grounds of a 19th-century pleasure garden, Lier’s lush city park is easily accessible from the center, divided by the Binnenete and bordered to the south by the main channel of the Nete River. The Stadspark serves as an excellent starting point for a 4.2-kilometer walk around the city, tracing the former route of Lier’s 15th-century outer wall (Lierse Stadsvesten).
Within the park, visitors can engage in a variety of family-friendly activities, ranging from an adventure playground and mini-golf to a storytelling house and a picnic area featuring a shelter. The Stadspark also includes a tennis court, a pond with charming footbridges, a small coffee shop, and a cafeteria.
12. LAGO Lier De Waterperels
Close to the heart of Lier lies a swimming complex that exceeds the expectations of a standard municipal pool. LAGO Lier De Waterperels features a training pool with designated lanes for serious swimmers, alongside a subtropical area suitable for families, equipped with slides, shallow pools for younger children, a wave pool, and a thrilling 100-meter river rapids section.
For those seeking tranquility, the complex offers a sauna, steam room, and a “warm lagoon” maintained at 34°C, accessible to individuals aged 10 and older. The Rest-eau-café features nutritious dining options for all ages, and during the summer, visitors can enjoy a large outdoor pool, splash pad, slides, and a spacious grassy area for sunbathing.
13. Wintertuin
The village of Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Waver, located 15 minutes south of Lier, is renowned for the Sint-Ursula-Instituut, an Ursuline monastery and Catholic school complex established in 1841. By the late 19th century, the Ursuline Institute had achieved international recognition, with approximately 25% of its students coming from abroad. During this period, a series of grand new buildings emerged in various architectural styles.
The most noteworthy among them is the Art Nouveau winter garden (Wintertuin) built in 1900, designed as a reception area for visitors to the resident girls. The structure features two half windows and a barrel vault, all adorned with exquisite stained glass crafted by Brussels glass artist Raphaël Évaldre.
Guided tours are conducted every Sunday throughout the year, excluding the period between mid-December and mid-January, as well as on Easter Sunday. The tour will also showcase other captivating sites within the school and monastery, including the church, oratory, school museum, a “piano gallery,” and many more.
14. Fort van Lier
Lier is situated on the outskirts of the Antwerp Forts, part of Belgium’s National Redoubt—a comprehensive and advanced network of fortifications established across the country in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Antwerp held strategic importance as the last line of defense for the nation and the crucial port for receiving supplies and reinforcements from allies.
The construction of Fort van Lier took place from 1877 to 1890, featuring a trapezoidal design with a moat that reaches up to 50 meters wide. In September/October 1914, the fort endured four days of intense shelling by German forces before its garrison withdrew.
Currently, the casemates and tunnels are utilized by Lier’s shooting club, while visitors can stroll along the moat’s banks and cross the bridge leading to the inner enclosure.
15. Fort van Kessel
The subsequent fort within the same defensive system succumbed to German forces on October 4, following bombardment by the notorious Big Bertha siege howitzer. Fort van Kessel is located northeast of Lier and, similar to its counterpart, has been reclaimed by nature.
Between April and October, guided tours of the tunnels are available, allowing visitors to see the gun emplacements, magazines, and troop accommodations, along with the devastation caused by the howitzers during the First World War. Tours can be arranged through the municipality of Nijlen or selected from the fort’s summer open days.
In the years since, Fort van Kessel has also become a vital winter habitat for numerous bats, with representatives from eight different species.
