LOMMEL - The city of Lommel organises in cooperation with the Flemish Carillon Society a carillon festival following the 16th WCF World Congress. The festival starts on Friday evening July 18 and ends on Monday July 21, Belgium's National Holiday. The festival will focus on two principal topics: the new possibilities for carillon music in the 21st century and the carillon compositions of Geert D'hollander and John Courter.

CARILLON
Lommel has had a carillon since 2000, made by Royal Eijsbouts from Asten (NL). The carillon consists of 63 bells of light profile and contains 5 chromatic octaves (B-Flat - c¹ - d¹ - chromatic - d⁶). The Lommel carillon - together with the University carillon at Louvain - is the second largest of Belgium in terms of numbers of bells. The bourdon weighs 3263 kg and has a total weight of 15.493 kg. Two swinging bells (d¹ and f#¹) by Marcel Michiels, dating from 1955, are integrated into the carillon and were retuned by Eijsbouts. There is also an old angelus bell from 1394 in the tower. The automatic playing system plays a melody each half hour. The carillon is played each Saturday from 2 to 3 PM.

ACTIVITIES
There will be solo concerts, a four hand concert, carillon in combination with tape, a forum on the carillon in the 21st century and a presentation on the Music of Geert D'hollander and John Courter. The newest type of mobile concert carillons will be demonstrated by Frank Steijns. The beautiful garden of the Old Burgomaster's House will be the place to listen to the concerts and view the carillonneur on screen. The presentations will be held in the old City Hall (Raadhuis). There will be a visit to the brand new Glass Museum. Participants can register to play on the Eijsbouts carillon. Please read the complete program .

LODGING
The Modern Hotel Corbie is very nice and within walking distance of all activities. The address is Hertog Janplein 1, 3290 Lommel, single 85 euro / double 120 euro www.corbie.be. If you prefer camping, you can choose between www.blauwemeer.be and www.parelstrand.be.

REGISTRATION
By registering you receive a 10 % discount on the hotel price. After registration you will receive a badge that will allow you to free admission of all activities including one lunch meal and a reception. Please send the registration form before May 1 to .

CITY OF GLASS AND SAND
Lommel has one long shopping street. On one end you find the hotel Corbie, together with the City Hall and some restaurants, the Glass Museum and the Cultural Center De Adelberg. On the other end you can find the Church Sint-Pietersbanden where the carillon is located, and the courtyard of the Bourgemaster's House where the listening area is located. Tourist attractions are:

• The neo-gothic church of Sint-Pietersbanden
• The old City hall (1845)
• The Leyssens Mill at Kattenbos
• The German soldiers cemetery (almost 40.000 graves)
• The Polish soldiers cemetery (257 graves)
• The pilgrims' center Mariapark
• De Groote Hoef (the Great Farm)
• The Bourgemaster's House with courtyard

The museums:

• De Kolonie, Archeologisch en Historisch Museum, Kolonie 77, Lommel
• Het Wateringhuis
• Het glazen Huis - Flemish Centre for modern glass art

Lommel has lots of possibilities for leisure and amusement. Around the market place there are many cafés and restaurants, a little further are the cultural centre De Adelberg and the movie complex Utopolis.

Lommel has an extended cycle route system and a lot of walking areas. You can enjoy many protected species of birds and plants in the nature areas of Pijnven, Lommelse Sahara or De Watering.