Not far from home and yet experience a foreign feeling.
Nice special houses and only one street in Buitenland create a cozy atmosphere.
On sunny days it can be quite busy here. Parking is possible at the dike. Please note, parking spaces are limited. If all places are occupied, you can continue to the Mobilhome parking a little further away.

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Viviane

July 14, 2024

Buitenland is a small but extraordinary hamlet of Bornem that is full of unique buildings. Originally, this hamlet was very rurally isolated (completely bordered in the north by the Scheldt) and remained uninhabited until 1845. From the mid-19th century, the Merckx family started a basket weaving factory there. At one point, there were 200 employees and the family settlement grew into a residential area. This unique history of origin also immediately explains the absence of a church, school or other communal facilities.

Anyone passing by Buitenland today will certainly be amazed. The hamlet is full of remarkable houses, each one reconstructed historical buildings that were built on the initiative of Victor Mercx-Verellen. The most famous houses are the Reuzenhuis, the (very crooked) Sint-Jacobstoren and the Gildekamer. Many of these houses are related to the world exhibition in Antwerp in 1894 and are replica houses from the 16th century. After the participation of the district of Old Antwerp, all participating buildings were demolished brick by brick and meticulously rebuilt abroad. A kind of Efteling or Bokrijk avant la lettre.

Fun fact: The Belgian band The Radios is said to have once recorded an album in this hamlet, so that they could later say that they recorded an album “abroad”.

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Oscar 👩🏻‍🌾, de wandelaar🥾

October 18, 2025

Please note, Café den Etranger was not open when we passed by, even though it was a Saturday 😎

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Details

Informations

Elevation 40 m

Weather

Tuesday 9 December

14°C

9°C

11 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 19.0 km/h

Most visited during

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See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Bornem, Mechelen, Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium

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Buitenland hamlet

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