Address
Kadetjesplein, in front of ‘Het Salon van de Smaak’ and the Tourist Office, Maastrichterstraat 59, Hasselt (Belgium) – (Free)
The Place
Even the locals hardly know this marvellous small square. You can reach it through a small passage right across the wonderful restaurant ‘Het Salon van de Smaak’ and the Tourist Office. At noon students and strollers eat their sandwiches on the benches. There are several original pieces of art. Two benches were offered by the city authorities to well-known citizens: writer Jos Ghijsen and the player of the carillon René Vanstreels (1925-2010). Try some different perspectives from different benches. The square will surprise you. From one side you see the low buildings of the historical city. From another side it looks like a magical garden (a horse on the roof!) or an open air museum.
The Tip
This is the ideal spot to listen to the carillon of the cathedral. Take a seat on the bench of the carillon player. He composed the melody of ‘The Singing Tower’ for the instrument. The carillon is a typical instrument of Flanders and The Netherlands. You will hardly find it elsewhere. Hasselt donated a carillon to its sister city Itami in Japan. In return the city received a complete Japanese garden. The carillon gives a voice to the bronze metal. Bronze is a happiness metal. Crucifixes, medals and carriers of happiness are made of this material. A carillon has a history dating from the 16th century and has at least 23 bronze bells. The carillon you hear in Hasselt dates from 1752 and has 49 bells. René Vanstreels is one of the best-known players of the carillon. He made it his life project. What is the project of your life? Now you are sitting on his bench, reflect on what music and harmony mean for you. Enjoy it.
Pillars of happiness
beauty,
expression,
harmony,
open mind
Extra
In the passage to restaurant ‘t Kookpunt you pass by a challenging, modern piece of art ‘Blinded by Lights’. It’s made by the Limburg artist and designer Michaël Verheyden (‘Understated Chic’). Nobody pays attention to it, because it looks like an empty publicity board. But it tells us a nice story about identity. Stand right in front of it. The hard light will attract you and even blind you. Gradually the light becomes a mirror. Now you can see yourself. What do you like about yourself? What are you proud of? What is your strength? Gradually your image becomes a radiant light. This mysterious piece of art helps us to love ourselves a bit more and to make our strengths glow. A crucial condition for happiness.
On the other side of the square the Social Fund has constructed a piece of art, composed by 30.000 old coins. It represents a lotus flower and is called ‘Het Slijk der Aarde’, which means that money is the root of evil. What does money mean to your?
A vivid statue represents one of the most famous Flemish actors Luc Philips in action. Imagine you would get a statue somewhere. Which pose would you take? Take a picture of you as a statue.
You’ll find tasty food in the Italian restaurant ‘Il Pasticcio’ or in ‘t Kookpunt. Just across the last one you can have a beer in ‘Het Hemelrijk’, which means ‘Heaven’. It is famous for its selection of more than 400 brands of beer. The taste of each brand is described to tease all your senses.
The carillon of the cathedral can be visited each first Saturday of the month.
Address
Insel Hombroich, Minkel 2, 41472 Neuss (near Düsseldorf, Germany) www.inselhombroich.de (Entrance fee)
The Place
This collection of art, nature, culture and architecture is a well-kept secret. Take at least half a day to discover this park with minimalist constructions and art from all over the world. The pieces of art are not presented in a chronological or thematic way. They are installed so that they seem to engage in dialogue with each other. Some works are from renowned artists, but none of them is provided with a name. There are no guards. Nature and museum merge into one. A total experience of brick, glass, art and trees. And white. Lots of white.
The Tip
A dozen of constructions are spread over the park. You have to pass through the first building when you have descended the stairs. Focus inside on the many shades of white and on the acoustics while you move along. Do the same in one of the other buildings, consisting of two circles, with a view on a buxus garden. Ask yourself in each construction what you exactly feel. Finally choose one piece of art and one building that has really stolen your heart. What’s the effect on you? How would you describe this total experience?
Pillars of happiness
beauty,
expression,
harmony,
wonder
Extra
A simple meal is included in the entrance fee. Rather special but very tasty. In the central cafeteria you will easily find people to share your impressions with.
Address
Parking lot at the church of Varengeville-sur-mer, North of France (Free).
The Place
A romantic village on the cliffs of Normandy. In the intimate church you see warm stained glass windows of Braque. On the churchyard you find his tomb, with small mosaic tiles.
The Tip
Have a seat on the bench behind the church. On the cliff in front of you, you see a modern reconstruction of Claude Monet’s impressionist painting ‘La Cabane des Douaniers’. Walk along the narrow path towards it: at the parking lot in front of the church 100 m inland, then to the left downwards. It is no real reconstruction but an impressionist experience of colours. Listen to the wind. On your way down compare the real paintings along the road to your personal impressions. Why not draw or sketch something yourself? In your own style.
Pillars of happiness
beauty,
expression,
meaning,
passion
Extra
Maybe you can talk to other art- and nature lovers. Pay a visit to one of the most beautiful landscape gardens of France (alongside the same main road) : Bois des Moutiers (entrance fee). A sensation for all your senses while strolling along magnolias and hydrangeas, rhododendrons from the Himalayas, Chinese azaleas and Japanese maple trees, which are all thriving in the acidic soil of this carefully designed park. Plan at least two hours for this visit. The entrance of the park is closed at noon.
Address
a Maison Nissim de Camondo, Rue de Monceau 63, Paris, France. (Entrance fee)
The Place
This building houses beauty, love and tragedy. One of the richest bankers of his time, earl De Camondo, ordered to build it here in 1911 for his son Nissim. But the son died in the first World War. The earl was overwhelmed with grief and decided to dedicate the house to an art collection in honour of his son. The earl died in 1934. One year later the house was opened for the public. Ten years later his daughter Beatrice, her husband and their two kids died in the concentration camps of the second World War. The family line ended. The house and its decoration survived. From the kitchen to the bathrooms, all the objects tell their own story.
The Tip
These are the silent witnesses of the inhabitants of a house full of life stories. Walk around and look in each room for something that draws your attention or interest. What does the object tell you? What would have been its meaning for the inhabitants? Go and look for the small wooden table, decorated with bronze and porcelain, called ‘Bonheur du jour’ (Happiness of the day). It’s used to write down your happy moments day by day. What would you write in your happiness journal of the past three days? Which objects in your own house tell us something about your personal life? Talk about it.
Pillars of happiness
beauty,
emotion,
harmony,
wonder
Extra
There is a special app available which makes it possible to hear all the exotic birds on the porcelain plates whistle on your own smartphone. But you will probably prefer the real birds in the 18th century English park Monceau nearby: some exciting square miles full of world history: a pyramid, a Chinese pagoda and the romantic Corinthian columns around a pond. Afterwards buy an original postcard or handmade paper in the beloved stationery shop Benneton (Boulevard Malesherbes 75). Write a personal gratitude letter to someone you appreciate.
Address
Hobokense Polder. Park your car at the information board 150 m from the train station along the ‘Schroeilaan’ in Hoboken, Belgium. (Free)
The Place
Some six kilometres from the Antwerp cathedral you find the largest nature reserve of the town, enclosed by the Scheldt, the dwellings of Hoboken and the old port industry: 170 ha of swamps, polders, reed, grasslands and willow trees. The sand in the underground comes from the construction of the Antwerp ring road and the Kennedy tunnel nearby. Follow the red walk (3,5 km) along ‘Broekskot’ and ‘Rallegat’, or the somewhat longer green walk (7,5 km) along the riverbank of the Scheldt.
The Tip
This is an exceptional place of biodiversity in town. Look for at least one remarkable mammal, bird, plant, amphibian and insect. There is plenty of choice. It’s the habitat of foxes, deer and European polecats. You’ll see salamanders, brown and green frogs. You find a variety of more than 500 different plants. In spring you even see orchids. In the air you spot orioles, blue dragonflies and more than 200 kinds of moths. There are more than 300 varieties of mushrooms. There is even a fly that has never been seen elsewhere in the world. So it has been named after this spot: the Pseudonapomyza Hobokensis.
Pillars of happiness
beauty,
gratefulness,
prudence,
simplicity
Extra
Look out for a sixth exceptional specimen in this treasure of biodiversity. Which human being has a quite exceptional look? Maybe you dare to tell him. Why wouldn’t you invite him or her to have a drink in the tavern ‘De Schorren’? There you can borrow a small backpack with activities for the whole family.
