Douzelage Benelux partners meet in houffalize

It’s such a joy – and a real bonus – that our Belgian and Luxembourgish Douzelage partner towns are so close by. Just an hour’s drive away in the Ardennes, roughly along the banks of the Ourthe, lies Houffalize. A picturesque little town that’s a favourite among hikers and cyclists. You can lounge lazily on terraces and enjoy the Belgian cuisine in its many cosy restaurants. And for the beer lovers? The Achouffe brewery is just around the corner. They certainly know a thing or two about good beer! On to Houffalize!

The Douzelage Benelux meeting is something we do annually, rotating from one municipality to another. There are familiar faces, but also many new ones. It’s nice to see that – despite the age of the organisation, founded in 1991 – we continue to attract many young people. That was certainly the case this past Saturday. We held our meeting in a small hall at Vayamundo, a holiday club in the social tourism sector. In other words: all the sporty options are there, the location is stunning, there are countless seating areas, terraces, and several restaurants – so social interaction is practically guaranteed.

Representatives from Douzelage partner towns Meerssen (NL), Houffalize (BE) and Niederanven (LU) meet in Houffalize – pic Uli Fielitz

A Douzelage meeting essentially consists of reviewing the exchanges and projects each of us has initiated in relation to Douzelage, and planning what’s on the agenda for the coming period.

For example, keep an eye on our website for a fun autumn outing for enterprising seniors: a day trip with fellow seniors from Belgium and Luxembourg, possibly to Schengen. Departure from Meerssen. In 1985, a treaty well-known to all was signed in Schengen. And, as it happens, there’s also a beautiful wine estate there: Domaine Thill. So, a visit to the Schengen Treaty Museum can be fittingly concluded at Schengen Castle, around which the vineyard is situated. That would make for a lovely day out!

As you may have read earlier on our Douzelage Meerssen website, there’s a far-reaching initiative to green up areas in Meerssen that have been selected by students of secondary schools in Meerssen. The project is called Water-Fall. Partners include Douzelage, Stella Maris College, Milieudefensie Meerssen, IVN Meerssen, Yuverta College, and last but not least, the Municipality of Meerssen. The aim is to raise awareness among young people about biodiversity and, more importantly, to have them play an active role in creating it. The goal is to roll this out via the municipalities, schools and nature organisations in the Houffalize and Niederanven region as well. A win-win for our twinning municipalities.

The Douzelage plaque is unveiled in Houffalize – pic Uli Fielitz

 We also touched on concerns about nature in relation to increased tourism: how can municipalities deal with this sustainably? We didn’t get much further than suggesting awareness-raising efforts in vulnerable areas. Think, for example, of wild orchid habitats and the growing number of visitors. It’s definitely on the agenda for our next meeting.

After the meeting, we walked to the beautiful historic town centre and witnessed the festive unveiling of a Douzelage plaque next to a newly planted maple tree. The mayor gave a wonderful speech for the occasion, touching on our European values, solidarity, and cooperation – a message that couldn’t be more relevant in these times. The unveiling was accompanied by a group of post horn players, including the chair of Douzelage Houffalize himself!

Lunch followed in a local school building, prepared by the chair’s wife, who also cooks daily for the primary school in Houffalize. Needless to say that we had a great meal!

Houffalize City Centre – pic Uli Fielitz

A city tour followed, focusing mainly on the Second World War period. Heavy fighting took place in and around Houffalize. There are impressive memorials and not-so-silent witnesses of that brutal conflict. A huge German tank sits prominently on Place Roi Albert and tells the story of the bridge in Houffalize that was bombed by the Allies – clearly a strategic move. The Panzerkampfwagen V Panther was retrieved from the Ourthe shortly afterward and placed in its current – and likely final – resting place. The scars of the Battle of the Bulge are still visible today.

There’s much to tell about Houffalize and the surrounding region. But better yet – go see it for yourself. Perhaps join the seniors? Or take part in the famous – and infamous – cycling tours like the Chouffe Classic? In two weeks, our board member Joep will lead by example and ride the Chouffe Classic. No easy feat. He’s doing the shortest route, which still includes 1,100 metres of elevation over 75 kilometres. For the real fanatics, there’s also a 175-kilometre route with 2,200 metres of elevation. No matter the distance, all cyclists face Belgium’s toughest climb: the Côte de Haussire. But there’s a fitting reward – a deliciously cold La Chouffe beer awaits at the finish line. Cheers, Joep – and good luck!

Douzelagemeerssen.nl

Text: Annigje Kruytbosch

Photo credits: Uli Fielitz, Niederanven