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The Cover of "Waar de sterre bleef stille staan", a famous Flemish Christmas carol by Felix Timmermans.

For most Flemish people Lier is know as the city of "PALLIETER". Pallieter is the name of a joyous fellow who represents the good and happy Flemish life. He was immortalized by Felix Timmermans, one of the most popular Flemish writers of the middle of the twentieth century.

Lier, though a small city, boasts a number of famous artists that were born within its streets. Felix Timmermans is in Flanders the most known of them.  He was born on 5 July 1886 in Lier. In 1916 he published his book "Pallieter" and.... became a legend in his own time. During the course of the years he turned into a popular and prolific writer who found most of his inspiration in the life of the city of  "Lier from way back when.." The "Fe" as he was sometimes called,  received numerous literary awards and died on 24 January 1947 in his house in Lier.

From the same generation as Felix Timmermans was the painter Isidoor Opsomer. Born in Lier in 1878, he studied at the Academy of Arts in Lier and Antwerp, where later he would become a teacher. Opsomer is mostly known for his portraits of the Belgian king Albert I and other famous politicians. He was knighted in 1940. Baron Opsomer died on 31 May 1967 in Antwerp, after a having led a full and rich life. He left us a legacy of more than 500 paintings.

The Timmermans-Opsomer House.

In a house of the 17th-18th century, called the "Groote Hofstadt" situated at the Netelaan 2-6,  visitors can learn more about these two famous Lier artists. The house has belonged to several important citizens of Lier and in 1917  the city bought it and transformed it into a school. Since 1968 it is called the Timmermans-Opsomer house and functions as a cultural center for the different artistic aspirations of the people of Lier.

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