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Must visit

Grote Markt of Aalst

The Grote Markt in Aalst is a suitable place to get acquainted with the sights of the carnival city par excellence. The town hall has a beautiful rococo facade, you can meet Ondineke in the courtyard of the town hall, and Dirk Martens was given a statue on the Markt.

The Grote Markt in Aalst is dominated by three buildings, being the Schepenhuis, the Belfort with its tower and the Area House (not the "prayer house"). The Schepenhuis was built in 1225, making it the oldest in Flanders. A belfry tower was built in 1460, which was fitted with a sundial in 1600 and a carillon with 52 bells. The Area House, built in 1544, served to proclaim the new laws and regulations or to make them known to the population. The council chamber is still in use.

In the courtyard of the town hall you can see a beautiful rococo facade, with a commemorative monument in French in honor of the Aalst heroes who gave their lives during the independence struggle in 1830. To the right of this is the statue of Ondineke, on the one hand a figure of LP Boon from his book “De Kapellekesbaan”, but on the other hand also synonymous with a top-fermented Aalster beer (blonde, 8.5°) traditionally brewed in the nearby Erpe-Mere.

Ondineke was a poor girl who tried to climb the social ladder by launching a charm offensive. Some sources claim that she sometimes did more than just use her charm to get higher. In any case, she succeeded. The statue is a copy, because the original is in the Stedelijk Museum.

On the Grote Markt in Aalst there is also a statue of Dirk Martens, the first printer (1473) in the Southern Netherlands. The people of Aalst sometimes call this statue "the black man" because the bronze is so discolored. He was given a statue on the Grote Markt in 1856. This was not only because he was a pioneer in the printing of books in the Low Countries, but also because he brought humanism to our regions through various publications.

Near Meer

Kelderman

Notorious fish restaurant Kelderman should no longer be presented as a notorious fish restaurant. Or is it. After all, there are new owners in a refreshed interior. The kitchen team also has a different occupation. A number of specialties from the repertoire of former chef Hubert Kelderman are integrated into the new menu as a tribute to his work. Who also stayed on post is host Peter Van den Driesschen. With a soft, sonorous tenor and fine gesticulation, he introduces the dishes served at all tables.

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Brasserie Blomme

Brasserie Blomme is more than just eating and drinking in Aalst. A visit to our stylish eatery is an experience full of casual conviviality, combined with culinary delights from kitchen master Bart Blomme. We make it an honor to provide lunches, suggestions and dinners with a wide choice for everyone's taste. Classics as well as grills and dishes from all over the world.

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