BOKRIJK SKANSEN - Bokrijk Openluchtmuseum

Bokrijk is a small town in north-eastern Belgium, located halfway between Hasselt and Genk . The biggest attraction of this place, which has been attracting crowds of tourists for many years, is the entertainment center, the main point of which is the open-air museum. It is one of the most interesting facilities of this type in Belgium.

On an area of 60 hectares, rural buildings and entire villages from various areas of Flanders have been reconstructed here. Its construction began in 1953, and less than five years later it was opened to visitors. Located 7 kilometres northeast of Hasselt, this open-air museum is surrounded by forests, gardens, farms and ponds that together cover 550 hectares.

IN Bokrijk we can admire over 100 houses, a church and a windmill that were demolished in various parts of Flanders and reconstructed here. These are buildings from East and West Flanders, the Campine region, Brabant and, of course, Limburg. In these buildings we will see people dressed in costumes from that era, performing work typical of a 19th-century village, using, of course, tools that were available 150 years ago. During the tour we can meet gardeners, women weaving wicker baskets, and bakers. In one of the buildings you can buy bread baked on the premises of the open-air museum.

A new attraction was added a few years ago. A small, old town from the 1960s has been reconstructed 20th century.
Within the open-air museum you can also eat in a restaurant located in one of the buildings.
Every year during the summer season in Bokrijk Various events and demonstrations of traditional artistic crafts are organised, where you can learn about the life and work of the ancient Flemish people.