WITH THE WHITE THROUGH ZICHEM! Discover all the beauty of this city on the Demer.

Video: WITH THE WHITE THROUGH ZICHEM 3.5 KM - Discover all the beauty of this city on the Demer. - YouTube

The walk starts at the station and takes you along the old railway bed to the Maagdentoren. Via the former Geuzenkerkhof, the market square, the Sint-Eustachiuskerk and the Elzenklooster, you walk along the banks of the Demer to the watermill and back to the station. To complete this loop of 3.3 km, a walking and cycling bridge has been installed over the Demer behind the De Hemmekes hall.

The White guides you on your journey. In the free activity booklet, you discover various facts about Zichem and also read fun anecdotes from the book of the White. You can pick it up at the station of Zichem.

Ernest Claes also walks with you. At various points, you’ll find quotes from Ernest Claes. Facts about the history of Zichem and quotes from Ernest Claes alternate along the entire route. There are also fun games for children. Play the running game on the old railway bed of ’t Trainke, the old steam train that once took pilgrims from the station of Zichem to Scherpenheuvel. Are you faster than ’t Trainke? Go to the toll collector to pay toll for your ship sailing across the Demer. Or would you rather play a game of 'kloempschieten'? Visit the music kiosk in the market square and listen to the most famous song from Zichem ‘De mennekens van plezier’ after doing some jumping. Visit Pastor Munte and confess all your little sins or relax in the dream chair with a view of the Demer.

Along the route of the walk, there are nine corten steel figures, each with their own story: the White of Zichem, Jan Van Lier (the mayor of Zichem), the toll collector, a cow, Pastor Munte, Wannes Raps, the miller, the ship puller, and the train conductor. At the end of the walk, you can take a nice photo of yourself as the White, a farmer, or Mother Cent.

Along the way, you will encounter several paintings by Tom, an artist from 'Qwallity'. The painting on the old railway bridge over the Demer refers to ’t Boemelke or ’t Trainke. You can sit down in the train and look out the window as you zoom over the Demer. On the ceiling of the kiosk in the market square, you see a map of Zichem with a quote from Ernest Claes. There is also a painting at the station with a quote from Ernest Claes.