On Sunday, April 21, 2024, the leisure service organized Galmusant once more in the GC Bailiff House in collaboration with the culture, youth and sports council. Galmusant is a leisure day in the context of Heritage Day 2024. On Heritage Day, all kinds of activities around cultural heritage are organized in Flanders and Brussels. The theme this year was ‘Home’.
A successful edition and lots of people, because nowhere do you feel more at home than in Galmaarden. There was so much to experience, such as a regional products fair, leisure fair with information stands and demonstrations of youth, sports and socio-cultural associations.
The inhabitants exhibited personal heritage such as saying tiles with Gallemoean, Tollebeek and Villezjiel sayings, proverbs and dialect words.
Of course, the Heritage Days of Galmaarden might not be missed on this Heritage Day. They had a stand at the leisure fair and an exhibition on the theme in the Gravenzaal with, among others, the following items:
• pigeon sport of the past
• evolution of telephone traffic
• my father was a miner
• everyone was a smallholder farmer
• evolution of lighting in the home
• the kitchen
• even nativity statues from 1935.
At home over the years
History of Galmaarden with old photos and stories, demonstration of Morse code as a means of communication by Galmaarden members of the Royal Union of Belgian Radio Amateurs.
There was continuous music, theater, poetry and other performances on the spring terrace.
In short, GC Bailiff House, the courtyard and the Bailiff Garden were completely transformed into a vibrant center of visitors, associations, regional products, art, music and dance.
If this wasn’t enough, the renovated Bailiff Garden was officially opened with a guided tour and various activities. There was a bouncy castle and make-up stand for the children, an outdoor game organized by Chiro Albatros Tollembeek, petanque and an outdoor art exhibition: ‘Heritage of Tomorrow’. With this art exhibition, a collective of contemporary artists have ensured that they are one step ahead of history.
This exhibition invited its many visitors to look beyond the boundaries of the present and imagine a world in which archaeologists have unearthed artefacts that shed new light on our current times. The beautiful works of art and mixed media were appreciated by the many visitors. Artist Goan Allebosch from Herne was present with some works and a mixed media by Wim Adriaenssens. At this beautiful location, Goans were honored and happy that this exhibition not only brought together various art forms but also many spectators who appreciated their works.
There were also two guided tours of the Pajottenland & Zenne Valley Regional Landscape with explanations regarding the work carried out and the natural value of the garden.
Everyone felt like the Heritage theme: HOME!
A well-stocked spring terrace in the courtyard, a library sales stand and side activities, something for everyone, where age really played no role.
A successful Heritage Day, a HOME feeling, which the local government of Galmaarden, the leisure department and the culture, youth and sports council can look back on with great satisfaction.
Photos and video: ©Chris Noerens
