About the village

Thanks to its favourable location on the Meuse, Stokkem used to play an important role in trade across the Meuse. Around the 11th century, the count of Stokkem had a castle built in Stokkem on the bank of the Meuse, after which Count Arnold VI granted the place city rights in 1244. The ramparts, walls and gates, the remains of which have been preserved, date from this period. A major fire in 1605, looting and also the fickle Meuse left their marks on the town. The original street pattern is still easily recognisable, but few really old buildings have survived that turbulent period. From later centuries, Stokkem still has quite a few historical buildings.

Stokkem is a real shanty town with a wiping culture: objects were woven with willow twigs (wissen). At its peak in the second half of the 19th century, an estimated 14 000 – 15 000 baskets were made per week. With the rise of mines and the introduction of cane (and later plastic), this industry was lost. Yet today you can still find references to basket-making everywhere.

A truly remarkable place in Stokkem is De Wissen. De Wissen includes the Visitor Centre De Wissen, water recreation on the old arm of the Meuse and the Negenoord-Kerkeweerd nature reserve, just opposite the Visitor Centre. In this former gravel extraction area, nature has been given every chance, resulting in a beautiful patchwork quilt of thickets, water lakes, riparian forests and cross-country nature. The loam watchtower in the area gives you a wonderful view of the region.

Near Stokkem you will find the hamlet of Boyen and the Meuse village of Oud-Dilsen with its characteristic Maria park with medieval tower.