Eppegem, a Zenedorp

Starting point is the church of Eppegem (V) on the Zenneweg, where you can also park. Walk out of the Zenneweg, cross the (busy!) Cross Brusselsesteenweg and go straight ahead into Rekelstraat. That street bends to the left at the edge of the village and takes you into the Eppegem coulters. An area of wet meadows and ditches, through which the old Senne used to meander. The river is now largely canalized, but in the Dorent-Nelebroek nature reserve (1) there are still two old meanders. The site enjoys EU protection as a habitat zone for the great pimpernel and the crested salamander, but is freely accessible. Protected bird species also breed there. At the intersection with barracks and rest bench, turn right into the Dorentstraat. On the right you get an idea of the richness of this nature reserve, even though you just saw the cooling towers of Vilvoorde vapors on the horizon.

You cross the Grimbergsesteenweg and walk straight ahead into the Motstraat, with the main entrance of the Impel domain on the left corner. The white castle stands on the site of a medieval motte. You continue to follow the street to the T of the Rijkenhoek, with picnic tables. Turn left there. You notice that large-scale farming is taking place here. On the next T, with bench under an oak tree, choose the Hogebaan on the right. Ignore the Haverenblok further on the left and continue until you can turn right into the Eikbosweg (at house no. 53). The asphalt ribbon takes you back to Eppegem village. In the residential area, take the second street on the left: Katersveld. At the end straight on into the tiled footpath, to the Schranshoeve (2). Originally a U-shaped, fortified farmhouse from the 16th century, with wide moat. It was restored in the 1970s into a municipal recreation center, with tavern 't Schrans.

You walk right around the water features, through the playground. (You can shorten by choosing the Schranslaan on the right that goes to the church). Leave the playground at Stijn Streuvelslaan, turn right and cross the avenue at the next intersection. From there you follow the Kreupelstraat to the Brusselsesteenweg. Cross, straight ahead into the Begijnhofstraat. Via a left turn to the diversion canal of the Senne, which flows to the Dijle near Mechelen. Cross the canal bridge (3). Then walk another 150 m, until you reach the forest on the right, where you follow the edge of the forest via the Huidevettersstraat. Railroad underneath and at the white house always straight ahead. You now automatically arrive at the Oude Zenne - the only real one - which is allowed to roam freely through the flat countryside. Although its banks have been raised considerably. Walk up the dike and follow the walking path 'Weerdse kronkels' to the left. In the distance you can already see the remains of a medieval lock tower with water mill, the Weerdemolen (4). It belonged to the Elewijtse castle 't Steen, 1 km away, where Pieter Paul Rubens lived and worked from 1635 until his death in 1640. At the ruin you cross the concrete bridge next to the beautiful sandstone arch and follow the Senne bank again, but this time on the other side and upstream.

You walk on the dike past two farms.

Extension of 2 km. Do you want to catch a glimpse of 't Steen, also called Rubens Castle (5)? The grass road between the two farms is heading straight towards it. On the way you only have to cross the N270. The castle is now private domain and is rented out for parties and events. Then turn right, take the N270 to the left and then right via the parallel Steenvaartdreef back to the dike path.

Past the intersection with the rest bench and the 'Rubens list' you continue to follow the gravel path on the dike. Where the gravel stops, leave the dike to the left, via the asphalt ribbon (to junction 18). You arrive at the N270, near the tunnel under the railway. Once you pass that tunnel you are back on the Brusselsesteenweg, which you follow to the right. The church tower further points the way