Hemix Spring Bernhardus Abbey Hemiksem - 9.5 km

Directions for a circular hike clockwise 9.5 km

Start at the Kallebeek ferry in Hemiksem: Follow Callebeekstraat straight for 1.5 km. At the level of the lawn, look for the round 'Willow Arch Gate' on the left side, which provides access to Callebeek Lake via stairs: a quiet and peaceful angler's paradise that we will circle completely, and at the top, we cross Callebeekstraat and follow the hiking trail through Callebeek Park.
Cross the Scheldestraat and in Den Akker Park we find the new wooden hiking path with an 'anti-mud' grate.
This leads us to the beautiful view over the Schelde and the large nature reserve of Bazel on the other side. The controlled flood area (G.O.G.) is part of the largest floodplain of the Schelde basin (630 ha) in the area of Kruibeke, Bazel, and Rupelmonde. At the same time, we look at the new residential blocks along the Schelde and at a water area with a large wooden terrace. This lake is still a remnant of the former clay extraction. The Schelde used to carve its path here, at the level of Hoboken and Hemiksem, through the Cuesta. Since then, it has flowed more eastward along with its tributaries. It was only in the Middle Ages that it shaped its current bed in the West Schelde.
We follow the beautiful hiking path, winding upward until we reach a rest area near the adventurous playground.
We walk eastward along the old fence of a former football field. We reach the Schelleakker, which we follow to the right, Steenbakkerijstraat, and then right again onto Heuvelstraat. At the traffic light, we go straight along Sint Bernardsesteenweg and at Depotstraat, we turn right, reaching the Abteihof of Hemiksem. We enjoy the beautiful area and the avenues. Leaving the abbey building on the left, we exit the premises and follow the Vliet to the left. We reach Molenstraat and take the right onto Provincialeweg, and after 100 meters, turn right onto the hiking path along the edge of the forest, now following Vliet (the Great Struisbeek) towards the Schelde. On the left side, we pass the Scherpenstein sports complex, and after the second pond, before the pump station, we go left and follow the path to Renaat Veremansstraat, and at the bend with Peperstraat we take the right onto Rietbroekweg. We follow this to Laardijk and turn right onto Nijverheidsstraat around Benedenvliet. We have a view of the front of the Bernardus Abbey in its static splendor. It was built by the Cistercians in 1243. They promoted the use of bricks and also agriculture through the diking of the Schelde banks.
The municipality of Hemiksem is the current owner of the abbey. Police and other administrative municipal services are housed there. On the east side, we find the entrance to the service apartments (Signori), where older people living there are still independent enough to live alone, but can still participate in communal meals and certain services and activities.
Along the Scheldebord, we walk back to the Kallebeek ferry at the former Gevaert site and first have a beer at Veertoren, because after walking one can get thirsty. Check the ferry service times: http://www.welkombijvloot.be/uurregeling-veerdienst-bazel-hemiksem-baz