Haspengouw anno 1900
It is 1900 and in the Haspengouw village everything is going about its ordinary business. Completely ordinary? No, of course not. Mr priest is proud of his renovated church and preaches from his pulpit as usual. The school has also been refurbished and farmer Bammens can rightly say again that he has the cleanest farm in the village. The champetter is back on top of the church steps shouting his announcements and keeping an eye on things. The villagers themselves are enthralled by the innovations in agriculture, though everyone thinks differently.
Progress
In 1900, many people continue to farm as they have done for generations. Yet progress lurks around the corner with the advent of mechanisation in agriculture. On the whole, we can say that Belgium was a different country then than today, where one party, the Catholic Party, ruled the roost, there was Universal Multiple Voting Right and you could be drafted into the army just like that. In the shadow of the Paris World's Fair, where novelties like electricity and film are attention-grabbers, life in rural Haspengouw ripples on relatively quietly.
A village full of life
1900 is the year the Haspengouw village comes back to life. Every Sunday in April, the villagers pull out all the stops to show how proud they are of their village. On Sundays, holidays and during the holidays, the village blossoms and children can dress up in historical costumes from the new dress-up suitcase. The parish priest intercedes again in abundance, the champetter shares, the school desks are full and the farms buzz with activity. During the school year, primary school students are welcome back in the school desks and can help on the farm.
NEW - Dress-up suitcase from days gone by
In the Spijker from Diepenbeek you will find a dressing-up case full of historical outfits. Here, children can literally dress up in the past on Sundays, holidays and holidays. Then they get to work outside with play equipment. So they really become part of our Living History scenes on the Haspengouw village square and as (grand)parents you can take beautiful pictures as a souvenir of your Bokrijk visit.
