Location: Heist-op-den-Berg
Top Things to do in Heist-op-den-Berg
Top Restaurants in Heist-op-den-Berg
What to do and see in Heist-op-den-Berg, Belgium: The Best Places and Tips
Heist-op-den-Berg (Dutch pronunciation: [ˌɦɛi̯st ɔb dɛm ˈbɛrx]) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises Heist-op-den-Berg proper (including the hamlets: Heist-Goor, Heist-Station, Zonderschot, Heist-Centrum and Bruggeneinde), the villages of Booischot (including the hamlet Pijpelheide), Hallaar, Itegem, Schriek and Wiekevorst.
Restaurants in Heist-op-den-Berg
1. Tomorrowland Belgium
Overall Ratings
5 based on 148 reviews
Tickets sell out almost instantaneously for Tomorrowland, thanks to its reputation as one of the world’s biggest celebrations of electronic music, playing host to Performances from techno to house, dance to trance. Now in its 11th year and notorious for its 15 wackily decorated stages and hypnotic lightshows, the festival is held in Boom, near Antwerp, and attracts a laid-back crowds of tens of thousands.
Reviewed By adctd2onlnshpng - San Francisco, California
We travelled from California to attend. We got our tickets through global journey. The production is insane! Best set ever. We met and danced along with people from all over the World. We will definitely be back again. Be prepared to walk an hour after partying to the shuttles. We opted to cab out of there Saturday and was a nightmare. Brussels only has 1,000 cabs so not nearly enough to go around. Be prepared to walk one hour to get to the shuttle.
2. Fort Breendonk
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 266 reviews
Reviewed By Vacationer155021 - Windsor, Canada
A self-guided audio tour takes you into the rich (albeit somewhat eerie) history of Fort Breendonk. We were amazed at all that it had to offer and the incredible things that took place here. I highly recommend this to anyone regardless of your historical knowledge or inklings.
You will want to bring snacks with you as it takes a while to go through and there isn't much nearby apart from a very fancy restaurant (not where you'll want to go after this)
3. St. Rumbold's Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 576 reviews
4. Thermen Katara
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 299 reviews
Thermen Katara is one of the largest spa's in Belgium. We welcome you on a trip around the world of sauna and wellness. Discover our wide offer of sauna's, baths and treatments from all parts out of the world and enjoy the fresh food prepared in our own kitchen. Katara is an oasis of quite, peace and relaxation. We consider a friendly costumer service, cleanliness and hygiene to be our basic values. Thermen Katara is free accessible for use of sauna, which happens naked every day except for wednesdays, which are the bathsuit days. You will find us at Belsele inbetween Antwerp and Ghent.
Reviewed By ArticCynda - Brussels, Belgium
Short summary: service okay but expensive for what it is, lacking refreshments, and difficult to reach.
Elaborate review:
Located on the outskirts of Belsele, in a commercial zone, the location choice of the thermae is peculiar to say the least. The Belsele station is only infrequently serviced, and particularly poorly during weekends and holidays, which makes it even more inconvenient for a touristic attraction. There is a bus stop nearby, but few buses connect to the station so it may be shorter to simply walk (distance ca. 1.4 km) rather than wait for a bus. There are only a few direct trains connecting to Brussels per day, so careful planning is paramount. Poor accessibility will undoubtedly be the most difficult to resolve problem that Katara is currently facing.
The facilities themselves are new and modern. For those seeking a rustic ambient, Katara definitely isn't the best choice, but that is of course a matter of preference. The interior is relaxing, well maintained and tastefully decorated. There is ample space, and few areas give an overcrowded feeling. There is sufficient diversity in things to do, ranging from foot baths to saunas, to (outdoor only) swimming pools, steam bath, relax lounge, jacuzzi etc.
In our experience, the facilities were very clean, and there are absolutely no negative remarks to be made on hygiene or health. Staff is cleaning throughout the day, and most of them are very friendly and helpful.
The only point where Katara is severely lacking is refreshments. There is not a single drinking water Fountain in the entire complex, nor any other kind of refreshment (fruits, tea, ...) which are an absolute necessity for a sauna centered wellness oasis. It is odd that they have not yet picked this up after 5 years of operation. It is therefore necessary for guests to bring water or tea along themselves. Fortunately, the provided lockers are large enough to store all of this.
The thermae are currently undergoing expansion, and the new oriental sauna and relax lounge with beds and sofas are both superb new additions to the site. It seems that the current boiler room has a hard time keeping up with its growth though, as evidenced by the lack of warm water in showers when many guests are showering simultaneously. Occasionally, the water is just too cold for a comfortable shower, even after a sauna session!
At other points, Katara appears overzealous. The surveillance cameras in the changing rooms (!) for example may please the staff's voyeuristic needs but are, needless to say, misplaced. The camp fire next to the swimming pool also offers little extra value but does produce a lot of air pollution.
Although the provided service at Thermae Katara is generally good, the value of a visit is only average due to the very high prices (considering entrance fee, extra charges for basic needs like refreshments, and expensive food and drinks in the restaurant). A visit is therefore only justified when spending an entire day at the thermae and bringing own drinks and snacks along. Katara still has a long way to go until it can offer a value comparable to that of German wellness/thermen.
5. Thermen Londerzeel
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 247 reviews
Reviewed By chitza - Belgium
We have visited quite a lot of thermae in Belgium; this one was on our to-try list. We will definitely come back here - why: because the choice and variety of sauna's was great. For example the Aqua Sauna, with a fish tank, and the...MoreDear, thank you for your review. We're pleased that you spent some pleasant moments and found everything relaxing. Sorry to hear about the staff, i'll personally look into this so this won't happen again. Hope to see you again!
6. Begijnhof Lier
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 184 reviews
Reviewed By Katrien S - Ghent, Belgium
Considering the size of the town, this is a relatively large Beguinage, but still only has 16 streets and alleys. One of the streets on one side has all the same houses, but in the rest you find a large range of different style and size houses. This is rather different from the other beguinages I have visited. Furthermore, there is no grass square, but there are quite a few trees in the private Gardens. It has a large barok church, which sadly seems to be never open. Part is undergoing necessary renovations.
7. Central Station
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
Leopold II had this unusual rail station built as a neo-Baroque monument to the railway age in 1905.
Reviewed By Nilesh D - London, United Kingdom
Good place, just be careful of 3 things, 1. People asking for cigarettes and money 2. Some people engage you in a conversation and try to rob your baggage 3. Some cabbies don’t accept cards so better ask upfront before boarding the vehicle
8. Brouwerij Het Anker
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 181 reviews
With roots going back to 1471, Het Anker is one of Belgium’s oldest Breweries, a harmonious blend of old and new in an authentic, historic building. At the same time, visitors can discover the maturing stocks of Gouden Carolus Single Malt, Belgium’s only brewery whiskey. You can visit the brewery as a group or on one of the guided tours: a) Groups of minimum 10 and maximum 25 people upon reservation. b) Guided tours, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 11am; up to 4 persons you do not need to book in advance. Price: €7,20 per person, which includes the guided tour and a tasting of2 Gouden Carolus beers.
Reviewed By Fonzzemst - Zemst
in this family brewery the make one of the best beers in the world, Carolus Classic. For those who love dark beer this is it. Also blonde and amber beers are available. In the bar annex restaurant you can have nice meals acompanied with all the beers they produce in the on-site brewery. I highly recommend this place for lunch and dinner.
9. Museum Plantin-Moretus
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Walk into the printing press and the Plantin-Moretus family home as though you were a family friend paying a visit 400 years ago. Explore the house, the garden and the press in the only museum in the world on the UNESCO World Heritage list. - the two oldest printing presses in the world and more than 20.000 lead letters - 30.000 old books, illustrated manuscripts and other treasures of European printing - a beautiful baroque garden hidden within the walls of the museum
Reviewed By Adam B
Really fun and interesting museum! I found myself getting lost in the various old tombs scattered throughout the house - especially the atlas' and botanical works. Quite fascinating to see how many different types of fiction/non-fiction were published by Rubens' business.
My only knock was it was at time hard to following the maze of rooms in the order you were suppose to see them. I got lost in the middle and might have missed something interesting! Signage needed to be bigger and more distinct.
Overall would visit again.
10. Kazerne Dossin
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 385 reviews
Reviewed By Anita D - Mechelen, Belgium
Very interesting museum about the holocaust and human rights. Has regularly special temporary exhibits. We had a very good guide who gave us a lot of insight in the events that led to the second WW and the holocaust.
You also have a very nice view over Mechelen from the Terrace on the top floor.
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