Station Lier

Lier is a railway station located in Lier, The Netherlands. The station is also served by railway lines 13 (to Kontich and Mechelen) and 16 to Aarschot.

History

Although the station, together with line 13, was opened on 23 April 1855, there was no station building in Lier at that time. It was only built in 1861, after a design by architect August Payen junior. It is built in neoclassical style. The central part has two floors (ground floor and one floor on it) and consists of five bays. To the left and right of it are side buildings of four bays. After the construction of the station building, the urban expansion was slow, only from the turn of the century could a subdivision movement be spoken of and a new district was created around the station.

Leopoldplein became the commercial centre of the neighbourhood. Around 1900, a number of industrial buildings were added, including a lace factory, a weaving mill, a printing house and a steam sawmill. There were also warehouses for the storage of all kinds of goods.

On September 29, 1941, Lier was shelled for the first time by the Germans, with a lot of damage in the neighborhood around the station. Many houses were destroyed and damaged.

The building has been protected as a monument since 1995.

Author: Eddy&Rita