Along the monuments from the war past of Aarschot (northern loop)

This cycle route leads past war memorials of the city of Aarschot and a northern loop through the municipalities of Wolfsdonk and Langdorp. There is also a southern cycle route and a walking route through the city. All routes can be found on RouteYou. Both cycling loops can be nicely combined for the sporty cyclist in a loop of about 40 km.

The southern loop.

The full loop.

The walk.

A free brochure with the cycle route and the walk

The cycle route and the walk are accompanied by a 100-page brochure. packed with fascinating information and striking photos in a beautiful layout. This brochure and accompanying map can be picked up free of charge at Toerisme Aarschot, probably from 1 July 2020. Check the website of the municipal museum.

This northern route is easier to cycle than the southern one. This is mainly due to the lack of firm slopes. The north and north-east of Aarschot is more built up, albeit detached buildings in a green environment. The roads are car-free. The northern part of the tour leads along a typical Kempen landscape with wide views of meadow between the buildings that are closed off by forest at the end. To the south you have to cross the iron sandstone hills, overgrown with pines and heather. We return to Aarschot along the pants of the wide valley with the Demer on our left. A few kilometers before the end, the white Tower of Our Lady with the typical spherical spire appears on the horizon as a beacon.

Why a route along the war memorials?

Aarschot suffered particularly badly in both world wars. In the First World War it was the first martyr city on Flemish soil. On the morning of 19 August, the rearguard of the Belgian army stopped the advance of the German troops so that the Belgian main force could safely retreat to the fortress of Antwerp. The city was taken by frustrated Germans and the civilians were confronted with the first wanton destruction, looting and acts of violence. The situation got completely out of hand when shots were heard in the city around 5:30 p.m. The Germans panicked and thought that Scottish civilians were shooting at them. During the shooting, the German commander was killed and retaliatory actions were immediately taken. On 19 and 20 August, more than 170 civilians were murdered by the Germans. Officially, 416 homes were burned down in those first weeks of the war, of which 366 were completely damaged and 50 heavily damaged. This trauma remains vividly present to this day. In the course of the past century, numerous monuments, memorials, even a memorial and a Peace Eebeiaard have been erected, which should continue to remind us of the suffering of the civilians and the heroism of the military.

In the Second World War, Aarschot was severely affected both at the outbreak of the war and in the final phase. Allied bombing targeted the station and the collateral damage was large: 44 civilians lost their lives and a third of the houses were badly damaged or completely destroyed. More than before the First World War, the memorials of the Second World War pay tribute to the commitment and special courage of resistance fighters, Allied pilots and liberators.

About the information at the memorials

At the sights we always indicate whether it is a monument to WWI or WWII. Then comes the date the memorial was erected. Next, we give a brief description of the facts with which the memorial is connected.

Want to know more about war memorials of Aarschot?

In 2020, a richly illustrated brochure titled "Forgive, Yes. Forgotten, never' of about 100 pages published. While stocks last, you can pick them up for free at the Tourist Office of Aarschot.