BUBBLE TOUR Via the geographical centre of Flanders, to the Dries in Opdorp

The tour is largely elaborated on the walking network Brabantse kouters and Scheldeland, but we leave the hiking network a few times. Hence this description.

Departure: Jozef Vermaesenplein 12, 1840 Malderen

Car and bicycle parking: around the church there is enough space for the car, you can park your bike in front of the entrance.

Distance: 8 km (25% unpaved) Extension via Lippelo forest 10 km (40% unpaved) with walk to ice cellar 1km extra

Buggies: Can go on the short distance, with some help in some places.

Contact: De Backer Guido 0473/67 45 20 E-mail: guido.debacker@outlook.be

Itinerary

Walking network is abbreviated as WNW / Walking node as WKP / Landmark as BW / Direction = > 

Right in front of the entrance of the church you will find WKP 3 , then 32 > 93

Extension 93 > 95 > 99. Attention: at the entrance gate of the Hof te Melis you leave the WNW and just walk straight on until WKP 119 on the left > 92. From WKP 92 onwards, the two distances run together again.

Shortening 93 > 92 At WKP 92 you deviate 100m. to the right to the geographical center of Flanders. After that, return to your steps. Take WKP 91 > 74 > 90. After WKP 90 past house no. 44 take the 1st field track on the left (Ruyenbergwegel) until the Houtenmolenstraat where you take the right, follow right until past the church. You are now on the Dries, take the street in the middle between the two squares to the zebra crossing where you turn left . Tip 1: Before turning left, walk straight ahead, past the roundabout into Damstraat. Follow the footpath on the left until the entrance to the football pitch. Cross the street and the wooden bridge here. You are now at the back entrance of the castle domain of the Capelderij. Before you dive straight into the park, you can first take a look 100m to the left of it to the restored ice cellar and climb it. Return to the back entrance and follow the keisdrupperspad signage through the park. Past the main entrance you come again to the Dries. Cross the Dries along the zebra crossing to Estaminet Drytoren and continue straight on in the Drietorenstraat. At the end of the street, cross straight ahead and follow WKP 89 > 69. Tip 2: Just past the Horta shop is the Keerpuntbosje walk through here. Now follow 69 > 70 > 68, after 300m towards WKP 68 leave the WNW , turn left and take the concrete track to the end. Then turn right onto the busy street (= Vierbunderstraat) and ignore all side streets up to the church, the end of your walk