Aarschot

Large parts of Aarschot got destroyed during the First World War. When the Germans occupied the town a German commander got shot dead on the balcony of the town hall. The German reprisal set a large part of the town on fire and 170 were executed.

• Tourist Office

  phone: +32 16 56 97 05
  address: Elisabethlaan 103

By train

The Aarschot Railway Station is just outside of the city center. There are direct connections to Brussels, Leuven and Antwerp. Aarschot is 13 minutes by train from Leuven.

By bus

The Flemish national bus company, De Lijn, has lines to Diest from for example Leuven, Diest and Tienen. There are also connections to Turnhout, but in these cases the trains are a quicker alternative. For more information regarding different timetables (only available in Dutch): https://www.delijn.be.

By bicycle

There are several very well maintained bicycle networks leading you to the city center without the need of using the regular roads. It will let you discover the beauty of the region.

By car

You can exit the E314 highway at Aarschot, from there on it's only a few minutes to the city center. If you don't like highways you can perfectly follow the N19 national road from Leuven also leading to the city center of Aarschot. There is a large parking lot very near to the historical centre, called Parking Centrum.

By plane

Brussels Airport (BRU) is relatively close and has a direct train connection to Aarschot. The budget airport of Charleroi (CRL) is a bit further away, but may be a worthy alternative if you try to save some money.

• Church of Our Lady

  address: Jan van Ophemstraat
  Some parts of this church date back to the 14th century. The western tower of the church is 85 meters high and thereby towers over the town and the nearby region.

• Beguinage

  address: Begijnhof
  Founded in 1259.

• Orleans Tower

  address: Orleanstoren
  One of the few remaining bits of the medieval defence wall that once surrounded the town, built between 1360 and 1365. The wall however got destroyed several times and got rebuilt a lot of times. The Aurelianus Tower was renovated in 1990.

• Municipal Museum of Aarschot

  phone: +32 16 56 84 51
  address: Elisabethlaan 103
  This museum depicts the history of Aarschot, from ancient times till right after the Second World War. The museum also has a bar called 't Bruine Café where you can taste one of the beers of the region.

• UGC Cinema

  phone: +32 16 56 56 55
  address: Demervallei 4
  The only cinema in Aarschot.

Events

• Fun DaysA three-day music festival in the center of Aarschot, organised since 2005. There are small concerts, a flea fair and several other small activities. Every year it is organised in July.

• Aarschot VolkorenA free choir festival held every two years. This event is organised since 2011 in September. The next will be in 2019. In the previous edition most choirs were from Belgium and the Netherlands.

• Ter Bogaerde, Diestsesteenweg 12, 3200 Aarschot: regional and seasonal products at an old watermill

• Het huis van peter Mot

  phone: +32 475 66 17 44
  address: Mottestraat 88
  Bed and breakfast located nearby Aarschot.

• Kasteel van Nieuwland

  phone: +32 16 56 58 46
  address: Beemdenstraat 61
  A former mansion that now functions as an event location and hotel. The rooms are decorated in an according style.

• Leuven — this thriving student city is very close.