The walk starts in the charming village of Hemelveerdegem. It seems to be plucked straight from a farmer's epic. The village square consists of a large grassy area with a beech avenue in the middle leading to the church. The village center has been protected as a village landscape since 1981. Also get to know ‘Den Dikke van Sesjans’ on the same square. This was once the name of the forefather of the Belgian draft horse. On the occasion of the Open Monuments Day in 2006, a life-sized bronze statue was unveiled here in honor of the forefather.

Further along, you walk past fields and meadows and through the nature reserve De Moenebroek. Here, during World War II, a Lancaster bomber crashed down in flames. At the entrance of the reserve, you will find a monument with the propeller hub of one of the engines. This was found during the excavation work. The reserve mainly consists of swamp forest, springs, and bubbling groundwater. As a result, it is always marshy here. The walking path itself is dry.

Toward the end of the walk, you walk along the controlled flood area of Hemelveerdegem. It must protect Geraardsbergen from flooding, as it did in 2010. This is already the third flood area in the region.

Directions

From Sint-Jans-Plein, look for the statue ‘Den Dikken van Sesjans’. Follow walking junction 39.

100 m further on, at café ’t Karrewiel, turn right (Paepmunte). You pass the kindergarten ’t Kapoentje.

Just before leaving the center of Hemelveerdegem, at the white traffic sign, turn left (concrete field path).

This changes into a narrow grassy path further on. Follow the grassy path to the right along the busy road until you reach the cycling path.

Cross the road and be careful. You are now walking on the Gentse Steenweg.

After 150 m, at house number 26A, turn right onto the concrete field path (Groene Weg). Enjoy the beautiful nature. The concrete road changes into a dirt path and turns back into concrete after a while.

At the end of the street, cross over and turn right (walk on the red-marked cycling path). You enter Schendelbeke.

200 m further on, you will see the monument of the Lancaster from WWII on your right, and you walk into the nature reserve De Moenebroek. Enjoy the silence and tranquility.

From here, follow the red squares from Natuurpunt: walk through the two wooden gates, further into the woods, turn left (under hawthorn hedge), on the stone road turn right, at house number 52 turn right back into Osseweide (look over your left shoulder at the highest point of this field path, you will see the Oudenberg of Geraardsbergen).

You will emerge onto a busy road. From here, do not follow the red squares any further, but the walking junction 39.

At walking junction 39, follow walking junction 59. You walk past the controlled flood area of Hemelveerdegem.

Continue to follow walking junction 59. You will come back out at Sint-Jans-Plein.

For a fresh pint, you can visit one of the local cafes.