Blog ≫ 2024 ≫ AC/DC weekender part one: Turnhout
Got to break up our trip into parts, and add some pictures here, and come back and add more details. And to inevitably run out of time before the end and miss a lot of exciting details from the latter part of the trip... Anyway, I had a few days off and went to Belgium to see AC/DC with friends and had a great time!
We left here about seven am when I got collected. Then to pick up the other friend, and to the Eurotunnel. It's great having an international connection right on our doorstep like this, and it will prove to be even more great on return. This is Eurotunnel, not Eurostar of course. This is the train you drive your car on to, the terminal is in Folkestone. Eurostar is the pasenger one you have to get from St Pancras. We had a quick look in the Folkestoneterminal but no breakfast or anything, though it was busy and plenty of people were making the most of it. Most notable things in the Eurotunnel terminal for me where a picture of the cast of Allo Allo on the way to the toilets (the picture was on the way to the toilets, the cast of Allo Allo were not on their way to the toilets), and also some dog beer for sale. They say it was beer, it was some sort of chicken based dog treat, part of a range of expensive luxury dog food. We did not buy any, no-one has a dog.
Through the tunnel, no delays, it only takes about thirty-five minutes to cross. Then my friend is a very confident Euro-driver, he's done this journey a lot. We did stop in some services, maybe somewhere like Jabekke? Just for the loo and some crisps for me, but a baguette in lieu of breakfast for the other two. Then back on the road again.
It was our confident driver who picked our first destination, Turnhout, it being the nearest notable place to the location of the gig. In theory a twenty minute drive from the gig, but more on this later. As we got close to Turnhout we saw a sign for AC/DC parking, so we knew we were in the right place.
Straight into some kind of shopping centre underground parking, a place called Indigo. Our hotel, The Corsendonk Turnova was on the edge of this shopping complex, and was fancier than I was expecting. Cheaper hotels were not available, because it's the height of summer anyway, but also being booked up by some of the 60,000 who were heading to the gig. I drew the long store and got a room to myself, the other two shared a room. Just dropped my bags, had a look-but-don't-touch at the mini bar and then out. We had a walk around the square next to our hotel, looks to be called Grote Markt, around Sint-Pieterskerk. It had a fairground set up on it, and while it wasn't open yet the square was closed off to traffic. So a real pavement cafe culture. We chose the pubbiest looking place to sit, though I cannot remember the name of it. Aha it seems to be Café de Kazerne, it's on the corner of this square but if I look it up on google maps street view it looks like it was Celtic Legends Irish Pub when they last took a picture 1.
I took a few pictures here, as we sat and I had my first beer here, a Corsendonk as it is the name of the hotel. Turns out the hotel is named after the beer.
Corsendonk is a Belgian beer brand. The brandname refers to the Priory of Corsendonk in Oud-Turnhout; which was in operation from 1398 to 1784, and was rebuilt in 1968, as a hotel complex by new owners Corsendonk Hote
Then we had more of a walk around, we went to another bar, had a look round the outside of the great looking Castle of the Dukes of Brabant, AKA Turnhout Castle. There's a museum in there now I think, and also maybe the local court.
Another drink outside in another bar, and then dinner in Smash Burgers And More. I got a good vegan burger, there were enough vegan options to be had. The back to Café de Kazerne and a sit inside. They have a lot of board games, including The A-Team game. We did not play.
Plenty enough beers had, then back to crash at the hotel.
Time to make some dinner, I will be back with the pictures and details from the following days...
A clear sky and a moderate breeze, 17 - 28℃.
- In 2014! Quite out of date.
⬅️ I've been too long, I'm glad to be back :: AC/DC weekender part two: pre-gig in Turnhout ➡️