Toerist Modernist

Toerist Modernist is a tribute to the often lesser-known modernist heritage gems of Belgium. In 2019, Gerlin Heestermans created toeristmodernist.be to share her passion for beautiful modernist houses and buildings and draw attention to their heritage value and vulnerability. Since then, spotting these gems, and ringing people’s doorbell to ask if she can take a peek inside, has become somewhat of an obsession for Gerlin. Her Instagram account @toeristmodernist became a must-follow for architecture lovers.

This guide features Gerlin’s 12 best walks. In it, she takes you on a tour of cities that are reputed for their modernist architecture, such as Ostend, Liège and Brussels, but also to less obvious places, including Eeklo, Charleroi, Tournai and Mariakerke. Each walking tour is described in lavish detail and illustrated with photos of the façades and a map of the tour. The many superb interior shots of some of the houses along the various routes also offer a glimpse of the unique designs that are concealed behind their front doors.