Verviers - Willful through the history of the little man and woman

Few among us will have learned at school that Verviers was once famous for its wool industry. For after World War II, that reputation began to decline sharply, and by the 1970s, it was all but gone. The splendid prosperity of Verviers was dominated for more than 150 years by unbridled capitalism and a continuous struggle by the working class for better living conditions. In the social struggle of the 19th and early 20th centuries, Verviers occupies a unique place in our country and even at the European level. As early as the 18th century, we had a precursor of an international union. During the turbulent 19th century, Verviers would become an international leader in social anarchism and a center of peaceful yet persistent resistance against social injustices. Foreign observers also watched closely what was happening in Verviers. The national solidarity for the strike of 1906 is legendary. In Verviers, the first collective labor agreement was signed. And the grand People's House was built there before that of Ghent.

During this walk, we discover in the urban landscape the contrasts between the wealthy bourgeoisie and the poor workers. We pause at places that testify to the social struggle. We follow in the footsteps of the great leaders Corneil Gomzé, Pierre Fluche, Jean Roggeman …

Accessibility by public transport
We intentionally start this walk at the central station. Verviers is easily reachable by train. Every hour there is a direct connection from Ostend, Ghent, Brussels, or Leuven. It takes you two hours from Ghent and less than an hour from Leuven.

The circuit
The walk starts from the central station and ends at the Place Verte. It takes about 10 minutes to walk from the Place Verte to the station. The city stretches long along the Vesder, which means there is quite a lot to see. The complete circuit is 5.3 kilometers. If you want to shorten it, we recommend skipping Les Grandes Rames, which saves about 800 meters.

However, it is better to make a day trip and split the walk into two parts. This can best be done at the Place du Martyr. Together with the nearby Place Verte, there are plenty of eateries there.

Want to know what else is worth seeing touristically? Then we recommend stopping by the tourist office, about 50 meters from our stopping place at La Grande Théatre.

Parking
Since our route starts from the station, the nearest parking is the one at the station itself. An alternative is the nearby free parking of the shopping center Crescend’eau.

Difficulty level
The path is well accessible along the sidewalks. We pass several resting benches. The use of wheelchairs is possible, but with the following considerations: there are occasional slopes, and since the flooding in 2021, there may still be some damage to the sidewalks here and there.

Catering
Since the walk takes place in the city, there are plenty of catering options available, and there are enough places to drink or eat. You can enjoy delicious meals at very reasonable prices in Verviers. You are sure to find something to suit your taste at the Place du Martyr or the Place Verte.