In Tienen, church art, memorial sites and archaeology sit alongside nature and leisure activities. This makes the city interesting for travellers who do not want to reduce culture to a single building: its themes range from centuries-old architectural history and remembrance of the First World War to Gallo-Roman finds. The landscape and various activities also add their own distinctive features. These differences can help you plan which sides of Tienen will shape your stay.
Church art and architectural history
The Sint-Germanuskerk tells almost nine centuries of architectural history. Its tower houses Willem Witlockx’s original carillon, with 54 bells; it is one of the largest in the country. This church therefore brings two distinct aspects into focus: the building’s long development and a remarkable instrument with a clearly identified creator and a specific size.
The Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-ten-Poelkerk offers a different perspective on Tienen’s architecture. It is considered the birthplace of Brabantine High Gothic, yet it also has Baroque furnishings, including altars and confessionals. The church also houses the painting “De Kruisverheffing” from 1635, which comes from the workshop of Antoon van Dyck. Its Gothic classification, Baroque details and the painting’s workshop attribution offer different starting points for exploring the city’s art and architectural history.
Remembrance and archaeology
The Necropolis of Grimde is a First World War memorial site in the former 13th-century Sint-Pieterskerk. It is the burial place of 140 Belgian soldiers who fell in the fighting around Grimde in 1914. Simple graves and distinctive stained-glass windows shape the site; its historic atmosphere invites reflection. The memorial thus connects a specific historical event with the history of a church building.
The Het Toreke Museum is housed in the former city prison on the Grote Markt, built in 1848. It displays finds from the Grijpenveld, one of the largest Gallo-Roman archaeological sites in the Benelux region. The contrast offers a helpful way to understand the themes: in Tienen, the history visitors can discover ranges from the events of the First World War to archaeological finds from the Gallo-Roman period. The museum also connects its exhibits with the history of the building that houses it.
Nature and cycling route
Outside the centre lies the Vianderdomein, a green and blue natural area and the city’s green-and-blue heart. It provides a different focus from the churches and historic sites: here, the landscape takes centre stage. Visitors who want to experience Tienen through more than its buildings and history will find a distinct connection with nature at the Vianderdomein.
The Grote Geteroute also passes through a clearly identifiable landscape: the Getevallei, with open fields and wet valleys. Part of the route follows the IJzerenweg, a car-free cycle path on the former railway line between Tienen and Diest. The two names do not refer to the same thing: the Grote Geteroute uses the cycle path only along part of its course. Both its connection to the former railway line and the Getevallei landscape are therefore important, distinct clues for understanding the route.
Activities with different focuses
Visitors to Brouwerij Vissenaken receive a detailed explanation of the craft brewing process. Brewing is experienced through all five senses: sight, smell, touch, hearing and taste. The focus is therefore on the production process and how it is experienced through the senses, not just on a single finished product.
At the Deboeshoeve, visitors can meet and care for farm animals by petting, feeding and brushing them. The Deboeshoeve also offers a heated covered-wagon ride with a lift for wheelchair users. Animal care and the ride are separate activities; visitors can take into account both the ride’s specific accessibility feature and their interest in spending time with the farm animals.
Heldenland offers another, more active focus: it has a five-metre-high climbing and sliding tower and a 25-metre-long death ride. The site also features tall metal structures made from reused industrial materials. The measurements give a concrete sense of the two challenges mentioned, while the structures’ materials add another distinct aspect. Overall, experiences in Tienen vary widely—from art and remembrance to nature and cycling routes, as well as brewing, farm animals and leisure activities.
Discover more destinations
Chaumont-Gistoux, Lasne, Genval, Walhain, Affligem, Lillois-Witterzée, Rebecq, Keerbergen
For the broader travel overview: Brabant.
