Leireken

Somewhat in the shadow of the Palm brewery is the former station of Steenhuffel, now called Leireken. Today it is believed that the station got its name from a disappeared steam train. This in turn is said to have been named after a popular train driver: Valère or Leireken. The station was built from 1880 to serve on the Londerzeel-Steenhuffel-Opwijk-Aalst railway line. In 1952 the station of Steenhuffel was closed. In 1978 there was good news for cyclists and walkers: the former railway line between Londerzeel and Opwijk was transformed into the Leirekensroute cycling and walking route. The municipality of Londerzeel, of which Steenhuffel is a part, became the owner of the station, but that did not prevent the building from slowly deteriorating. In 1984, the non-profit organisation Leireken received it on a long lease for a period of 35 years. Thanks to the efforts of many volunteers and the opening of a weekend café, the former station has become one of the best-known meeting and resting places for cyclists and walkers in Flanders. In the cosy café and on the terrace with a view of a train carriage from 1935, holidaymakers will certainly find what they are looking for.

Lannoo