5 things to do in Lier

Tour the Zimmer Tower
When planning a trip to Belgium, Lier may not feature in most tourists’ itineraries, but for the few who know of this little city (close to Antwerp), it’s most likely because of Louis Zimmer. While you can’t tour this self-taught clockmaker’s house, you can survey his works at Zimmertoren, the 13th century tower, built from the city wall’s remnants. Originally called Cornelius tower, it was renamed in Zimmer’s honour in 1930.  The tour of the tower begins even before you enter. Its right facade has four automatons in the form of statues that perform a striking sound every quarter hour. At noon, from an opening in the facade various figurines of Belgium's local and national personalities parade... As as you walk towards its front facade, you'll notice the-2D Jubilee clock, an aesthetic, astronomical masterpiece that Zimmer gifted Lier in 1928, Belgium's 100th year of independence. Its central dial shows Belgium's official time and 12 smaller ones surrounding it depict various periodic and astronomical phenomena such as the moon cycle, the zodiac, seasons of the year, high tide and low tide etc. Inside, the audio guide explains the most interesting aspects of Zimmer's Astronomical Studio in the tower; it has the 75 dials that are always in motion. They are adjusted by a master-clock every six seconds. The studio also has a planetarium and its ceiling has a revolving disc that replicates our Northern hemisphere. In the pavilion next to the tower is another world-renowned masterpiece–the 16-feet, 4500-pounds, Wonder Clock with 93 dials, built by Zimmer in 1960. One of its dials is the slowest mechanisms in the world and takes 25, 800 years for one revolution. Before stepping out, browse through the old-fashioned equipment that Zimmer used, a reconstruction of his old workshop, a painting of him with the tower in the background, and other memorabilia including an eagle by metal-sculptor Lodewijk Van Boeckel, a well-known contemporary of Zimmer’s besides the painter Isidore Opsomers and writer Felix Timmermans.

Meet the sheep heads. Go boating.

Pic: Pooja Bhula

If you’re lucky, now you’ll be able to enjoy some sunshine or you may have to throw open your umbrella against the unpredictable European rain. There’s an interesting tale around the sheep sculptures you’ll find as you walk towards the side-arm of River Nete nearby. Legend goes that in the 14th century John II, Duke of Brabant wanted to reward the people of Lier for fighting with him against the city of Mechelen and offered them a choice between a cattle market and a University. Thinking rationally that the market would earn them profits, while a university would only cost money, they chose rights to handle cattle of the entire region and have since been nicknamed “Sheep Heads”. You’ll notice that one of the sheep is black, this is because the lady who donated money for the sculptures was always the black sheep of the house and wanted her name inscribed in the black one's ear. Now if you like, take that boat ride on the Nete, I'm told its a quite scenic ride, or sit in the Café opposite it and enjoy the view. Birds, including the occasional stork make an appearance.

Visit the pigeon market

Pic: Danielle Verbueken

Guess what? Lier even has a racing-pigeons market! In times of war, pigeons were trained to get information from enemy areas in the past. Typically in pigeon races, trained pigeons that are released have to find their way back home. Their owners have a clock with which they are able to tell time taken to return, the time taken by the pigeon is compared to the that of other pigeons and the one that reaches first, wins. While the sport is not popular in Belgium anymore, Belgian pigeons compete in various tournaments in other countries, especially China. They sell for 1000s of Euros.The market in Lier is open between 6am and 1pm, you'll also find young ones, they can be identified with their yellow feathers.

Walk around the Beguinage

Pic: Pooja Bhula

Another pride of Lier, is its beguinage. These monasteries were typically built outside city walls in several Low Countries of Europe, but as cities grew bigger, beguinages got incorporated into the city or had to move out. The most popular theory for their creation is that during the middle ages several women who lost their husbands to the crusades wanted to live in protected communities. As per another theory, women preferred beguinages as it gave them the kind the freedom, they couldn't find elsewhere. While they served God and did social work, they didn't have to vows like nuns in a convent. They could come and go as they liked and could also leave the beguinage, return to normal life and get married. There were such arrangements for men too, called Beghards. But beguines were only allowed to do jobs that were not done in the city, so the men soon left. Each beguinage has a church, but doesn't have a baptising pond as beguines were not allowed to get pregnant, if they did they had to leave. Lier beguinage seems to have been a wealthy one, although no beguines live there anymore; the space is rented out by social welfare and private persons. As you take a stroll on its cobble-stoned lanes, you'll discover that it's more peaceful than the rest of city and has a plenty pretty vines overflowing from windows…

Try Vlaaike

Pic: Danielle Verbueken

These small, but heavy cinnamon cakes have a slightly crispy surface, but are soft inside. The taste of cinnamon, three 'secret' spices and candy sugar are quite strong, so you'll either like the cake or you just won't. One of the oldest regional cakes in the province of Antwerp, Vlaaike has been an important part of the local culture for over 300 years. Over the years several steps have been taken to ensure that its quality and reputation are maintained, for this an Order of the Lier Vlaaike was created; only six bakeries are members of this Order and have the right to make these cakes. In recent times, it has also been included in European Commission's protected food category–PGI.

With inputs from Danielle Verbueken