Public transport to the big harbour festival in Belgisch-Bocholt

On Sunday 30 August 2026, 31 residents of Bocholt visited Bocholt's Belgian twin town. The occasion was the grand "Feest aan de Vaart" to mark the 200th anniversary of the Zuid-Willemsvaart. Organised by the town of Bocholt, the day trip combined the harbour festival with insights into the history and culture of the Belgian twin town. The town twinning between Bocholt in Germany and Bocholt in Belgium has existed since 1952.

Around the Passantenhafen and the dry dock, a varied programme awaited guests from the German twin town, featuring music, street entertainment and numerous activities on and by the water. There were pedalos and model boats on display, visitors could tour the naval vessel "Liberation%$, and there were activities for families and a long picnic table. "Trips like these bring our town twinning to life. Personal encounters and shared experiences are what breathe life into a twinning", said Petra Taubach, Bocholt's European Affairs Officer.

The spectacular history of St Laurentius Church

Another highlight was the visit to St Laurentius Church, including a climb up the church tower. The church is renowned far beyond the borders of the Belgian town of Bocholt for a technical feat: In 1910, the church tower was moved around 9.4 metres to its new location in the space of just a few days. This extraordinary story has earned the Belgian residents of Bocholt the nickname "Torenkruiers" - 'tower movers' - to this day.

Brewery culture and Belgian hospitality

The day trip was rounded off with a group lunch and a visit to the brewery museum, which showcases the long brewing tradition of the Belgian twin town. After an eventful day, the tour group returned to Bocholt in the evening - with many new impressions and encounters from the twin town of the same name.