The Wase Heritage Prize is an annual recognition for special heritage projects in the Waasland region. This year, the focus is on built heritage, with three laureates and a main winner being honored. The public can also cast their vote for the Public Prize 2026. The municipality of Beveren-Kruibeke-Zwijndrecht has been nominated with two projects.
The project Parein: an ode to a vanished Beveren biscuit factory revived the memory of one of Beveren's most important industrial employers. A new memorial monument, an exhibition, and testimonies from current and former employees brought together the story of the factory and its community. This project not only honored Parein's industrial past but also created a valuable meeting place for shared memories and local identity.
The project Hof van Wissekerke, located within the 19th-century landscape park Wissekerke in the center of Bazel, aimed to create a new meeting place in a quiet, low-stimulus environment, in participation with the neighborhood. This part of the park was redeveloped not as a landscape park, but as a neighborhood park within the principle of a quiet oasis, with attention to the historical context and the restoration of heritage elements such as the old kitchen garden room and an original castle park path.
“"Which heritage project captures your imagination and deserves to win the Public Prize?"
Voting for the Public Prize 2026 is open from October 13 to November 13, 12 PM. The award ceremony for the Wase Heritage Prize will take place on Saturday, November 14, in Sint-Gillis-Waas.
