On the edge of the Flemish Ardennes, there are still many beautiful and surprising spots to discover: let's head to Herzele and the districts of Ressegem and Aaigem in the Dender region.

Text and photo: Pasar Herzele/Guido Elias

This route, a little over 8 km long, takes you through quiet residential areas and along slow roads, field paths, through meadows, and a small piece of forest, where chirping birds catch your attention. Welcome to Herzele and the particularly quiet Aaigem and Ressegem.

Along the way, you will encounter beautiful heritage, with stunning churches, an old castle, chapels, and a historic windmill. From the quiet roads and paths, you can enjoy delightful views and step through largely unspoiled nature. It feels as if time has stood still here.

The route

The neo-Gothic Sint-Martinuskerk of Herzele (V) from the early 20^th century features several beautiful stained glass windows. Depart with your back to the church, cross the zebra crossing, and take the tiled path between pharmacy Decraene and the shoe store. Follow this path and turn right at the end to the (oval) roundabout. Here, turn left, and then at the next T-junction turn right and follow left at the next T-junction (Ressegemstraat). Be careful here, there is no sidewalk. Follow this road for about 300 m to an old Mary chapel where you turn right onto the dirt road (enjoy a beautiful view on the left). At the next T-junction, go left along the edge of the forest. At the end of this road, which transitions into asphalt, turn left at the T-junction (towards the church). You are now in Ressegem. Now take the first street on the right (Sint-Mauritsplein) to the Sint-Mauritskerk (1), where you then turn left. Then behind the rectory, turn right (follow the green arrow). At the next intersection, cross the road and continue straight ahead (house number 5). At the next junction, turn right and at the end of this path, turn left (Paddenhoekstraat). At the end of this street, keep right and continue straight on (dirt road towards the forest).

Stay right on this dirt road until the T-junction, turn right and after 100 m turn left (narrow winding path). At the end of this path (highest point), go straight on a wider path. Take the street to the right at the end. Always go straight until you reach a grassy path leading to the forest. Take this path to the left. Then at the edge of the forest, turn left (green arrow) and at the end of the forest turn right (green arrow).

At the asphalt road, turn right at house number 52, then after 200 m (house number 53) turn left onto the cobblestone road. At the T-junction, turn right and after 50 m take the left path. Keep following this until the windmill Te Rullegem (2) and go right in front of the mill (green arrow). Continue straight until the cobbles of the castle avenue, then turn left and immediately right. In the next curve between 2 orange posts, turn left (green arrow). At the end of this path, take the first street left towards the supermarket and then the first street right back to our starting point, the Sint-Martinuskerk (A).