Turnhout (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – VRT presenter Arnout Hauben launched the Turnhout Podwalk in September 2025, a free 6 km walk with 27 stops, highlighting women’s history, supported by Councillor for tourism Annemie Der Kinderen and local guides.
As GVA News reported, Arnout Hauben, a VRT presenter, has launched a new Podwalk in Turnhout after earlier projects in Leuven and Roeselare. The Turnhout Podwalk was officially presented by Alderman for Tourism Annemie Der Kinderen (N-VA/cd&v).
The walk is guided by podcasts that tell stories linked to the city while people move through its streets.
“It’s a shame Arnout Hauben can’t be there himself. He has such a warm, pleasant voice.”
Annemie Der Kinderen (N-VA/cd&v).
What stories of Turnhout’s past does Arnout Hauben’s 6 km Podwalk with 27 stops reveal?
The Podwalk places women from Turnhout’s history at the centre of the route. City guide Ortwyn Arts explained that their stories form the main focus and show how their influence shaped the city.
One of the figures featured is Catharina Beersmans, a leading 19th-century actress. Streets in Rotterdam and Antwerp were named after her, but in Turnhout, her contribution is less recognised. Arts said she only discovered Beersman’s importance after becoming involved in theatre herself.
The Turnhout Podwalk is now available free of charge. The walk can be downloaded by scanning the QR code at the Visit Turnhout office on Brepolsplein or by using the app store. GPS technology makes sure that every audio clip starts at the right moment during the route. The walk is 6 kilometres long and takes around 2 hours to finish. There are 27 stops along the way where Hauben gives explanations about the places and stories linked to the city.
“The walk also passes along the green outskirts of the city,”
says tourism coordinator Kristien Sysmans.
“The Fen Area would be too far for this walk, but the podcast does refer to the many hiking opportunities there. The walk is easy and accessible to everyone and can be done at any time.”
“A walk like this with a story is a pleasant way to explore the city,”
says Annemie Der Kinderen.
“I’ve also discovered places I’d previously passed by without a second thought.”
The Podwalk project was launched by VRT in March 2024 under the cultural series Wandel Dwars door de Lage Landen, where Arnout Hauben first guided listeners through Leuven and later through Roeselare. In Turnhout, podcast walks were introduced earlier by local museums, starting with In the Footsteps of Brepols in 2021 and followed by Child with Ink Stains in 2022.
