Meurop & Dijledonk in the spotlight on “Heritage Day” 2021
If “Open Monuments Day” is the annual holiday to open up immovable heritage in the autumn, then “Heritage Day” at the end of April is the public event in Flanders and Brussels for movable and immovable heritage.
The iconic furniture company Meurop that was active there until 1980 wrote years of collective history in Rijmenam. In the golden sixties, the whole country looked forward to finding the colourful and lively Meurop brochures with its attractive and affordable design furniture in the mailbox. The Meurop-furniture of that time and the designs of Pierre Guariche and others produced in Rijmenam are once more in great demand these days, especially among vintage lovers.
The project developers PSR-Jan De Nul Group and COGIVA are delighted to be able to host an inspiring and Coronaproof cultural heritage programme with the theme 'Night' in the Dijledonk area development in cooperation with the cultural policy & tourism department of the municipality of Bonheiden and the creative collective Imaginair.
Discover the full programme at Dijledonk:
OPENING OF THE THEATRICAL EXHIBITION: MEUROP OUT OF THE CLOSET
In collaboration with Imaginair
Inspired by the rich past of the site, Imaginair crossed the country in search of the original Meurop furniture, to bring it back home to the factory where it was made. On Heritage Day 2021 you will not only discover the impressive Brutalist factory building by architect Hugo Van Kuyck, there is also the expressive Meurop exhibition. The theme 'Night' breathes stories and secrets. The past comes to life in decors of former times. The past welcomes you with an imaginary touch! For the theatrical exhibition 'Meurop out of the closet’, Imaginair created new images for old stories. Expect an exhibition like a story, with real furniture in the leading role alongside real people. They let the furniture speak, they bring them back to life. They search for the stories that are engraved in their memories. They give voice to the conversations that have taken place in their company. Imaginary and at the same time theatrical, just like life itself.
Expect a theatrical exhibition appealing to the imagination.
DIGITAL HERITAGE WALK 'NIGHT' IN THE CENTRE OF RIJMENAM
In collaboration with Municipality Bonheiden
From Saturday 24 April onwards, the Heritage Walk will take you and your 'bubble' along 7 historical locations in the centre of Rijmenam 'with a story'. And you can take that very literally, because at each location you can scan a QR code. You will then get surprising 'digital' stories from Jaak Van Assche (honorary alderman and board member of the Cultural Council) and Luc Vangeel (chairman of the Local History Society 't Hoefyser). Together with a 'digital' Natuurpunt guide (an organisation for nature and environment), you will discover the 'nightlife' of the barn owl living in the tower of the Sint-Martinus church. The rich history of the Meurop heritage site is also brought back to life by master storyteller Jaak Van Assche.
