In addition to the magnificent open-air museum, Bokrijk also offers kilometers of cycle routes situated in beautiful, forested surroundings. One of the main attractions here is the path leading through the middle of the lake. Great experience, when you can be in the middle of the basin and still be dry, admire the surrounding nature from the level of the lake or stay face to face with proud swans swimming here.
In the 1965 year, after 13 years, the construction of a new, magnificent monument was completed. The 84-meters tower, the highest monument of peace in Europe, houses an interesting museum (War, Peace, Flemish emancipation). Many war exhibits, such as weapons or uniforms, were gathered on the 22 floors. Historical photos show the suffering of soldiers and civilians. Visiting the museum begins with entering the top of the building. From its terrace there is a wonderful view of the whole region from Nieuwpoort to Passchendaele, Ypres, Poperinge and Ploegsteert.
Tower located along the Yser River in Diksmuide is decorated with the letters AVV-VVK (All for Flanders-Flanders for Christ), before the entrance there is an inscription No more war. The museum's motto is: What remains of life ?. What remains of the land?. If you want to go back to the past, I invite you to Bokrijk, a magnificent open-air museum where you can teleport to the years 60 or even earlier, until the 19th century. If you have more than 50 years You will remind yourself of your youth here, and if you are younger, you will find out how your parents and grandparents lived. You will probably experience a shock that they could live without cell phones or Wi-Fi. When you move from the 1960s to the nineteenth century, you will understand how a great technological leap made humanity in the 20th century.
XIX century
The building in which this magnificent museum is located was designed in the year 1930 by Joseph Vierin.
The museum offers rich collections of works of Belgian artists. What attracts a lot of visitors is undoubtedly the world-famous collection of Flemish primitives, such as: Jan van Eyck, Hans Memling, Hugo van der Goes, or Gerard David. There are also paintings by Renaissance and Baroque artists, a dozen works from neoclassical times and realism, the most important works of symbolists and modernists, outstanding works of Flemish expressionists such as Permeke, De Smet, Van den Berhge, Brusselmans or Tygat, and a wide selection of modern art (after 1945 year). |