Summer vacation? That means ice cream time! Does this sound familiar: a family outing on a sunny summer day, ending with two scoops in a cone? Or would you prefer a tub?
We can enjoy it, but of course they didn't know about this culinary delight in the past. And according to proper etiquette, licking and smacking your lips would certainly not have been allowed! Discover all kinds of culinary facts during the "Brij, pap en banket" (Porridge, gruel, and pastries) tour, developed by Tourism Kalmthout, based on the historical sights in Heide (Kalmthout). The walk is easy to follow along the walking junctions, which are listed in the app. Of course, you can also simply ErfgoedApp the map in the ErfgoedApp .
Exploring Heide, a culinary journey through time!
We start at Heide station and walk to the nearby statue of Mother Kee. More statues of women in public spaces is a topical issue in many cities and municipalities, but here in Heide, you cannot ignore Mother Kee's reputation. Who was this formidable woman? Well, she founded De Cambuus in the Kalmthoutse Heide and cooked for the many men, the sand diggers, who worked there. What was on the menu? You can hear about that during the walk via the audio clip.
Tourism began to take off at the start of the20th century. People from the city came by train to enjoy the healthy air at Kalmthoutse Heide. After the Second World War, a bus trip to Kalmthoutse Heide even became the classic school trip for schools far and wide. Hundreds of those children passed by Monida, the oldest creamery in Heide. Perhaps you did too? Do you have fond childhood memories of a school trip?
You can choose whether to walk or pick up a scooter at Monida. I prefer to walk and leave the scootering to the adventurous types ;-).
The former synagogue is located on Leopoldstraat, where you can learn more about Jewish dietary laws and how to prepare kosher food. A little further on, we hear: "We are standing here at the entrance to the Withoefse heath, also known as the play forest." Yes, you can also play a game while walking! Then we dive into the Middle Ages: "We didn't know about French fries yet. Boiled porridge or gruel made from semolina or buckwheat was the monotonous daily fare..."Mush! Can you imagine that? It's quite different from the colorfully filled shelves we know in supermarkets today. Even the word doesn't sound very appetizing...
The aristocratic lady at Keienhof probably served something a little more delicious. Here, guests could enjoy an abundance of meat, poultry, and game. Yes, this is what was served at a real banquet. Would you like to try swan or peacock? To each their own, of course.
“The medical world believed that a stay in the hills of Kalmthout had healing properties. You didn't have to travel to Switzerland; you could also come here to the heath in "Little Switzerland."”
Are all these stories about food making you hungry? Along the walk, you will come across various places where you can enjoy a snack and a drink. As mentioned, Heide has always been a neighborhood with many hotels and restaurants because of the tourists from the city who came to visit the Kalmthoutse Heide. That is why you will also come across a few restaurants and cafés during the circular walk.
If you're not tired after 6 kilometers, you can always walk to the famous Kalmthoutse Heide at De Vroente. Otherwise, you can walk back to Heide station after enjoying an ice cream. Bon appetit! Enjoy!
Practical information:
Choose how long you want to spend on the stories and texts; allow approximately 2 to 3 hours to listen to and read everything.
Distance: 6 km
Starting point: Heide Station (Kalmthout)
Credits
A route through Tourism Kalmthout.
