Thorn

The Little White Town

Thorn, the white town visited by many tourists, has a rich history dating back to the late 10th century. Over time, it evolved into a miniature convent ruled by an abbess and 20 ladies of nobility. The convent had its own jurisdiction and its own currency until 1794 when this came to an end with the arrival of the French.

Little White Town

It was then that Thorn got its distinctive white color. After the aristocrats fled, the French conducted a tax based on the size of the windows. The poor, often living in large houses, formerly belonging to wealthy people could not afford this. To bring down the height of the tax bill they bricked the windows. To conceal the building tracks ("scars of poverty") the houses were whitewashed.

Guided Tours Through The Listed Area

The center of Thorn is a listed area. Sights include the cobbled streets, the beautiful Abbey Church and the Municipal Museum “Land of Thorn”. These are well worth visiting. In the Municipal Museum, "The Land of Thorn", you can visit the Panorama Thorn, a three dimensional painting that represents the historic center. You can also visit the ’’Kapel onder de Linden” (Chapel). You can find it about 2 km outside of the historic center. There are still processions from surrounding villages to this special chapel. On your way there you pass several field chapels that once were also visited on the way to the Chapel. Every third Sunday of the month you can participate in a themed walk led by a VVV tourist guide. In addition, there are guided tours for groups by appointment available throughout the year. More information at VVV Thorn.

Nature And Boot Trips

One of the oldest nature development projects of the Border Meuse, is “Koningssteen” near Thorn. Galloway cattle and Konik horses ensure that hardwood, thickets and grasslands develop alongside each other.  From Thorn you can make boot trips along the beautiful Maasplassen area.