Flanders celebrates its iconic monuments on Heritage Day

More than 800 monuments across Flanders will welcome visitors on Sunday for the 36th edition of Heritage Day. With more than 1,100 free activities, there's something for everyone.

This year's theme, En route!, shows how people and ideas have always travelled along ancient routes by land, rail or water.

Hundreds of local organisers are welcoming visitors to their heritage sites. There will be a wide range of free activities, including monument tours, guided walks and workshops, with a particular focus on walking and cycling.

Leuven is the host city this year and has a special programme. Visitors can see its city hall for the last time before it closes for five years for major renovations and find out about the future of Saint James' Church, which has been closed for some 60 years.

Ferry rides and sculpture gardens

In Antwerp, visitors can take a ferry from the Museum aan de Stroom to the Dry Docks, where they can explore various boats or ride in the bottle of adventurer Fons Oerlemans.

Ghent will open its new province house, the former Leopold barracks, and inaugurate the renovated sculpture gardens at Saint Luke's. In Limburg, Bokrijk is open free of charge, and local history societies from all over Flanders are presenting the heritage of their regions.

In Bruges, architect Yvan Claeys is opening his own modernist home to the public, and in Kortrijk, the Navigo Fishing Museum reopens with the skeleton of a sperm whale named Valentine as its highlight.

Visit the Heritage Day website for a full list of activities.

^{The façade of Leuven city hall © PHOTO BELPRESS}