Koen Kennis: “Bokrijk must return 17 buildings to the city of Antwerp” (Antwerp)
Bokrijk Open Air Museum in Genk urgently needs to return a series of historic buildings to the city of Antwerp. That is what Koen Kennis, the Antwerp alderman for Tourism, says. These are houses that were demolished in the 1960s during a remediation operation in order to be given a new lease of life in Bokrijk. Kennis asks Tourism Minister Zuhal Demir to mediate. “She once moved from Antwerp to Genk.”
The seventeen houses once proudly shine in the historic meat district, but were flattened in the 60s when the city began to rehabilitate the most neglected and war parts. The buildings eventually end up in Open Air Museum Bokrijk in Genk, where since 1973 a sample of Flemish architectural heritage has been shown in theme park ‘The Old Town’. In this way, a piece of patrimony was issued from the sloop hammer at a time when the Flemish results came from an urge for modernization.
But times change. Today, Antwerp Alderman for Tourism Koen Kennis (N-VA) believes that Bokrijk should return that piece of Antwerp’s heritage. Rather today than tomorrow. “The nature of heritage conservation has evolved over time to in-situ preservation and monitoring,” the aldermen say. “The houses date from the period from the end of the 14th to the 16th century and represent important Antwerp heritage.”
Kennis has more reasons to red the seventeen Antwerp houses from Limburg claws. “At the end of February, the preliminary design for the restoration of the Vleeshuis was approved. We are going to restore it and better connect it to the streets. In this way, the building regains its central role in the district it deserves. The Vleeshuis dates from 1503 and is the oldest intact civic building in our city. The soul of Antwerp lies in that district.”
Knowledge is not the only thing that likes to see the buildings shine in Antwerp. City guide Patrick Van Ouytsel, who shows tourists around in the Antwerp dialect (Me Lou through the city), joins the request for a refund. “When I go out with visitors from Limburg in the Vleeshuisbuurt, I notice that they are not aware. That makes it all that much worse for me as Sinjoor. Those houses belong in the city, is clear.”
As alderman for Tourism, Kennis now wants to address a formal letter to the Flemish Minister for Tourism (and fellow party member) Zuhal Demir as soon as possible. “I count on her cooperation. She herself also moves from Antwerp to Genk at some point. Zuhal is an excellent minister, so that seems like a good exchange, a win-win situation for all Antwerp and Genken residents.”
The Bokrijk Open Air Museum in Genk could not be reached for comment yesterday. Too busy protecting his assets?