SURROUNDINGS
Roosendael is the crossroads of many touristic walking, cycling and car routes. The Flanders Route, the Cities Route, the Neteland Route, the Lazarus Path, the Vegetable Path, the Bicycle Node Network, the Vegetable Region Car Route, the Mosterd Pot Walk, the Roosendael Path... all (walking and cycling) roads lead to Roosendael. These roads (often along former towpaths of the 'river landscape') can also be used to explore the region from Roosendael.
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Roosendael is located in Sint-Katelijne-Waver, 5 km north of Mechelen, on the border with Walem. This domain along the Grote Nete covers approximately 17 hectares and has been designated as a nature reserve on the Regional Plan and in part even as a nature reserve.
Since 1967 it is also a protected landscape. All this becomes even more beautiful thanks to the presence of various protected monuments: the so-called Plague House (16th century), the Poortgebouw and the Coach House (18th century), the Ice Cellar (presumably 19th century). Most historic buildings have been recently restored. You can learn more about the history of Roosendael here.
The age-old interplay of nature, landscape design and architecture makes Roosendael a fascinating experience today. This certainly also applies to the 19th-century landscape park with its impressive trees, soon 160 years old, including the two thickest plane trees in Belgium.
Roosendael is also renowned abroad for its collection of 'stinsen plants'. These are - especially flowering - plants that feel at home in places with a long building history. 'Stins' is Frisian for 'stone house'. Some argue that you could read the contours of the disappeared abbey if you mapped stinsen plants. After all, the still existing foundations would provide the calcareous soil that stinsen plants love.
In the middle of this beautiful park, the Koetshuis and the L andhuis form the core of the accommodation centre.
Auction
Sint-Katelijne-Waver and its surroundings are the vegetable region of Flanders. Experience the busy activities of the 'Mechelse Veilingen', the largest cooperative vegetable auction in Europe. Only group visits are possible. More info: www.belorta.be
't Grom
Another recommendation is the new vegetable museum 't Grom , which fascinates young and old with its original approach. 't Grom is located in the barns of the historic Midzeelhoeve, once a leasehold farm of Roosendael Abbey. Roosendael is therefore collaborating with 't Grom for the educational package 'Feast on heritage'. 't Grom is therefore more or less a regular destination for schools that stay at Roosendael.
winter garden
Also very worth seeing is the Art Nouveau Winter Garden of the Ursuline sisters in Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Wavre, a true top monument. Groups can make an appointment with the non-profit organization Wintertuin, tel. 015 75 77 28. Individual guided tours are also possible for a small fee: every third Sunday of the month from 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm.
Mechelen and surroundings
And of course Roosendael is the perfect base for a visit to Mechelen and the surrounding area, including the historic city center, the Toy Museum, Planckendael, the provincial domain De Nekker or Technopolis, but the Sportimonium in Hofstade is also worth a visit.
Other art cities are also easily accessible from Roosendael: Lier (10 km), Antwerp (20 km), Leuven or Brussels (30 km).
Just ask
As a visitor, would you like more information about tourist, cultural and leisure events in the area? Or are you looking for a cozy restaurant, a nice playground, a swimming pool within walking distance, a good movie? We are happy to help you. You will also find your own publications about the domain and various tourist information publications on Roosendael.