The FeliXart Museum gives Drogenbos a distinctive artistic touch: it is dedicated to historical and contemporary avant-garde art and is set in a five-hectare green oasis. The Sint-Niklaaskerk, a local cheese-making tradition and seasonal paddling on the Zenne also show that the town offers more than just one attraction. Those planning a stay can tailor the balance of culture, history and nature to their own interests.
Art and Architectural History
The museum grounds once belonged to Felix De Boeck (1895–1995). The grounds’ former connection to this artist adds a specific historical dimension to the museum’s focus on art.
The Sint-Niklaaskerk offers a second cultural landmark, this time architectural. It is a longitudinal cruciform church, is close to Brabant Gothic in style and has a crossing tower. In a cruciform church, the nave and transept intersect; the tower stands above this crossing. The church’s features include a stone baptismal font from 1558, partially polychromed. Polychromed means decorated in multiple colours. The church’s layout, stylistic influence and dated baptismal font offer different ways to explore it.
Cheese Tradition and Storytelling Routes
Local history also has a culinary thread. Because of the local Fromage de Bruxelles, Drogenbos residents were called “kaaskrabbers.” At the same time, a thriving sideline in cheese and butter production gradually developed. The historic connection to cheese thus has both a cultural and an economic dimension.
As part of the Tuttenboom project, a book-based storytelling tour through Drogenbos and its sights was created in Dutch and French. Unlike exploring a single building, this format tells the town’s story as it leads visitors through it. Its bilingual format is a specific feature of the tour.
Nature, Water and Finding Your Way
Since 2013, the FeliXeco nature grounds have offered locals and visitors space to relax in a green setting. The grounds include a listed 18th-century farm and the Swamp nature reserve. Relaxation, a historic farm and a named protected area are thus distinct features of the site.
During the summer months, you can paddle the 6.3-kilometre Peddelroute on the Zenne between Lot and Drogenbos. The route runs from Lot via the Lambiekroute, along the Zennebeemden and through Sint-Pieters-Leeuw to the Catala-site in Drogenbos. Before planning your trip, check whether the seasonal tour is available on your chosen date.
If you’re lucky, you may spot kingfishers, a beaver, dragonflies and unusual fish while paddling on the Zenne. At the Catalabossen, a stretch with a natural character provides a diverse habitat for numerous animal and plant species.
The virtual walking network consists of junctions and routes that are not signposted on site. So, before setting out, familiarise yourself with the junctions and routes rather than expecting to find waymarkers along the way.
Discover more destinations: Rebecq, Overijse, Grimbergen, Geetbets, Zaventem, Walhain, Ittre, Landen
View the broader travel overview: Brabant.
