Brussels mountains to the Koekelberg

A hilly and more rural part of Brussels, towards the fifth longest church in the world, and admire the Brussels skyline

An astonishingly green, hilly Brussels towards the National Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Koekelberg

After a few amazing walking trips in Brussels, such as through the Royal parks and the Sonian Forest, our capital offers even more nice walking ideas. Today we explore the northwest of Brussels, where we park just over the border in the Flemish Brabant's Kattebroek. This hamlet of Dilbeek provides a green access to Brussels with ample parking near the exit.

We immediately encounter the first 'mountain' on our path - the Thaborberg, where we enter the first Brussels municipality - Sint-Agatha-Berchem - via this hilly nature area. Interconnecting paths through a still fairly rural area guide us through the Wilderbos to the Hogenbos. Not a high forest, but a vast meadow that we cross, allowing you to enjoy the first view over our capital. We walk along the cemetery of Molenbeek on the busier Gentsesteenweg, through the Karreveldpark with its castle, and then connect the Fuschiapark with the Elisabethpark - this immense park, filled with crocuses and daffodils, is situated atop the longest tunnel in Belgium - at the foot of the Basilica of Koekelberg.

A smaller trip today, so we take our time to visit the fifth longest church in the world and its 360° panorama over our capital, which is definitely a recommendation.

For the return journey, we opt for a few fragmented bushes in Ganshoren, which lead us to the Zavelenberg. These last meadows of Brussels guide us back to the beginning via the Molenbeek and the Kattebroekbeek.

Certainly a recommendation that is far from an everyday city walk in this northern part of Brussels. A must-see is the basilica, which is free to enter, and its panorama (8 euro p.p., from 6 people = 6 euro p.p.)

Sights along the way:

- Thaborberg or park of the sanatorium - hilly nature area of 6ha where limestone was extracted from the Middle Ages until the 19th century

- Sint-Agatha-Berchem, a Brabant municipality until 1954, now a municipality of the Brussels region and birthplace of Jean-Claude Van Damme

- The Wilderbos and the Parucqbeek springs -forest area of 8.21 ha in the valley of the Molenbeek

- Hogenbos -view over Brussels North to the Basilica

- Sint-Jans-Molenbeek - originated from the industrialization of Brussels - birthplace of Herman Teirlinck and Franky Vercauteren

- Cemetery of Sint-Jans-Molenbeek -significant heritage of grave galleries from 1880 in the foreground of the Basilica

- Karreveldpark and Karreveld Castle - old site where clay for bricks was extracted to the former wooden cycling track

- Koekelberg - From the parish of Molenbeek to an independent Brussels municipality with its own giant (Raimundo, the giant representing Raymond Goethals) and where the Basilica is partly located.

- Elisabethpark - 17ha park with a view of the Basilica and is located above the longest tunnel in Belgium - Annie Cordy Tunnel (formerly Leopold II Tunnel)

- Basilica of Koekelberg or the National Basilica of the Sacred Heart - Largest church in Belgium, fifth longest church in the world and largest Art Deco building in the world where 3500 people can attend a service - Free to enter

- Panorama from the Basilica and enjoy an impressive Brussels skyline at a height of 52.8m - €8 per person // €6 per person for groups of 6 or more - last tickets half an hour before closing time - also accessible by elevator, but the staircase up is highly recommended for a bit of adventure (last part)

- Museum of the Black Sisters with paintings, furniture and art objects, tableware, sculpture, Brussels and Flemish lace - open every Wednesday from 2pm to 4pm = same ticket as panorama

- Ganshoren - a Brabant municipality until 1954, now a municipality of the Brussels region where part of the Basilica of 'Koekelberg' is located

- Cité Moderne of Sint-Agatha-Berchem - famous Brussels garden neighborhood with modernist design and avant-garde appearance from 1922 - 1925

- Zavelenberg, meadows of the last farmer of Brussels and remnants of the former rural Brussels

- Molenbeek - tributary of the Zenne that springs in Dilbeek as Kattebroekbeek