BELGIUM - Via Brabantica (3) – Antwerpen / Lier

This is day 2 on the Via Brabantica from Antwerpen till Lier. At the train station Antwerpen Centraal, you need to follow the Carnotstraat / Turnhoutse Baan (picture 1) straight till you quit the centre. The Carnotstraat / Turnhoutse Baan is a large avenue with much traffic. After crossing the inner ring called Singel and the highway outer ring, the camino enters a giant park called Rivierenhof (picture 2). Further on, the park becomes more a small nature reserve. There are some markers but I could not find them all. So my trip was a little bit longer but I didn’t regret it.
Soon, you leave Rivierenhof and after taking the tunnel under the E313 highway, you will walk through a piece of land divided in many small lots. Those are called “volkstuintjes”, inhabitants can use the ground of the commune and cultivate vegetables or fruits on it. After crossing another busy road, the via goes around Fort number 2. You have to know that in the 19th century, many forts were built around Antwerpen to protect the city. Some forts are still intact and are used by all kind of associations. Take some time to explore the fort inside. If you are not afraid of labyrinths, take the stairs to the next floor.
The next commune is Borsbeek (picture 3). For the moment, the church can’t be visited as they are searching for a new priest. You can ask for a sello in the police office in front of the church. After the centre of Borsbeek, you will walk around Fort number 3. You can’t visit this fort because it’s a ruin. But a small detour can be made in the nature around it. We meet again at waypoint 5.
After Borsbeek, the camino goes to Lier, the objective of today. But there are still some kilometers to do through farmer lands (picture 4) and sometimes you will pass some houses grouped together. Finally, you will enter the city of Lier (picture 5). Take some time to visit Lier because it has nice things to see like the Zimmertoren, St Gommarus church and Begijnhof. Just go in the tourism office at the right side of the commune hall on the central place. Present your credencial and you will receive a sello which is three stores high!

Picture 6: St Gommarus church classified UNESCO. It should be a cathedral.