Past monuments from Aarschot's wartime past

This route leads past the numerous war memorials of the city of Aarschot. It is a combination of the northern and southern loop. It is intended for the rather sporty cyclist for whom the distance of more than 37 km and the southern slopes are no problem. Do you think this distance is too much, but do you still want to learn more about the war memories in Groot-Aarschot? Then do the shorter loops of about 20 km or take the walk in the city center.

• The southern loop.
• The northern loop.
• A walk in the city.

A free brochure with the cycle route and the walk

The cycle route and the walk are accompanied by a 100-page brochure. packed with fascinating information and striking photos in a beautiful layout. This brochure and accompanying map can be picked up free of charge at Toerisme Aarschot, probably from 1 July 2020. Check the website of the municipal museum.

Why a route along the war memorials?

Aarschot suffered particularly badly in both world wars. In the First World War it was the first martyr city on Flemish soil. On the morning of 19 August, the rearguard of the Belgian army stopped the advance of the German troops so that the Belgian main force could safely retreat to the fortress of Antwerp. The city was taken by frustrated Germans and the civilians were confronted with the first wanton destruction, looting and acts of violence. The situation got completely out of hand when shots were heard in the city around 5:30 p.m. The Germans panicked and thought that Scottish civilians were shooting at them. During the shooting, the German commander was killed and retaliatory actions were immediately taken. On 19 and 20 August, more than 170 civilians were murdered by the Germans. Officially, 416 homes were burned down in those first weeks of the war, of which 366 were completely damaged and 50 heavily damaged. This trauma remains vividly present to this day. In the course of the past century, numerous monuments, memorials, even a memorial and a Peace Eebeiaard have been erected, which should continue to remind us of the suffering of the civilians and the heroism of the military.

In the Second World War, Aarschot was severely affected both at the outbreak of the war and in the final phase. Allied bombing targeted the station and the collateral damage was large: 44 civilians lost their lives and a third of the houses were badly damaged or completely destroyed. More than before the First World War, the memorials of the Second World War pay tribute to the commitment and special courage of resistance fighters, Allied pilots and liberators.

About the information at the memorials

At the sights we always indicate whether it is a monument to WWI or WWII. Then comes the date the memorial was erected. Next, we give a brief description of the facts with which the memorial is connected.

Want to know more about war memorials of Aarschot?

In 2020, a richly illustrated brochure titled "Forgive, Yes. Forgotten, never' of about 100 pages published. While stocks last, you can pick them up for free at the Tourist Office of Aarschot.