Adriaan Jozef Heymans

Adriaan Jozef Heymans was born in Antwerp on 11 June 1839 and died in Schaarbeek on 16 December 1921. He lived in Wechelderzande for much of his life, where his love for nature flourished.

He was a landscape and genre painter, who also painted seascapes, and a watercolourist. He is considered the spiritual father of the Kalmthoutse School and was also a leading Belgian impressionist painter. 

A memorial weekend was organised in Lille to mark 100 years since Heymans' death. In addition to a walk and exhibition, a publication has also been released. Copies can be bought at the town hall reception for €39.

Both the Painters Walk and Tour Elentrik Wechelderzande pass by memorials in honour of Heymans.