In the context of promoting the slow paths, the VVV Tourism Zemst opened 14 walking loops along slow roads in the spring of 2020 after thorough preparation. One of them is the Vinkebrugpad.

This path is 8.5 km long and goes over slow roads for 60% of its length.

The name Vinkebrugpad comes from the bridge over the Barebeek, the “Vinkebrug.” This bridge was built in May 2015 and was ceremoniously opened in July of that year by the mayor and the alderman of Tourism and Slow Roads. At the same time, work was also done on the reconstruction of the neighborhood path along both sides of the bridge for walkers and cyclists. This road is wrongly referred to as Vinkebrug but is actually the Broekweg. This is a historical neighborhood path that originally ran through the large pits later dug in Hofstade to where the Kampenhoutsebaan now meets the Trianondreef. The piece at the Vinkebrug is the only thing that remains of the original path. The Vinkestraat is also officially still Broekweg.

Further on, you walk a little along the Leuvense canal.

In the last section of the walk, you come to the Arendvoetweg. This road was originally called the “Vriezenbroekstraet.” Due to the construction of the railway and the E19, the route of this historical road has almost completely disappeared. You continue walking along the old Zenne over the only remaining piece of the original section.

Directions

Start at the intersection of Tervuursesteenweg / Zandstraat (parking old swimming pool).

The building you see across is the former station of Hofstade.

With your back to the sports hall, you head left on Tervuursesteenweg.

You go under the railway and take a right over the station parking and then follow the path straight ahead until you reach Eikstraat (first street on the left, note there is no street sign at the corner). You go left and follow this street to the end and then take a right into Eikvoetweg. At the end, you go right into Ambroossteenweg until just past house number 121A. Here you go left and head straight to Vinkebrug. You follow the path straight over the bridge and come into Korte Bakkestraat (paved) and take a right at the fork and go straight (unpaved) until you reach Vaartdijk. Here you go left and walk a little along the Leuvense canal. Past house number 63, take a left into Muizenstraat (small cobbled piece). Next, you go left in Muizenstraat. A little further, you take a right into Heuvelstraat and then a right into Witveldstraat. In Witveldstraat, take the first street on the left (still Witveldstraat) and go straight into Werfheidevoetweg. At the end, you follow the curve to the left and then go straight in Werfheide (unpaved). At the Y-intersection, you go right and follow Werfheide. You come to B & B De Werfhoeve and take a left into Muizenstraat. Past house number 98, you take a right (also called Muizenstraat). At the intersection, go right into Balkvoetweg. At WZC Ambroos, you follow the curve to the left and then turn right to come into Balkweg. At the end, you go left to the traffic lights at Tervuursesteenweg. You cross over and go left on Tervuursesteenweg. Then turn right into Gasthuishofweg and follow the curve to the left. You arrive at Gasthofhoeve, now known as a brasserie, which was completely renovated after a fire in 2014. At the fork, you go right (between house number 18 and Gasthofhoeve) and continue on Gasthuishofweg straight ahead (keeping the parking lot and football field on your left). At the end, go left of the building and follow the narrow path along the forest edge on the left side. You turn left at the post with a hexagonal sign (between Zenne and Barebeek). You come to a second post, turn right, and follow this path until you reach a third post. Here you go left and come onto Zemstsesteenweg and take a right. You go past house number 171, turn left, and immediately turn right onto Brugvoetweg. You come to the railway and the E19 and turn left onto Arendvoetweg. Further on, you follow the old Zenne for a bit and before the railway, take a left into Diepeweg. At the next fork, stay on the same side of the railway and walk straight to Bordekensstraat. You come onto Tervuursesteenweg and go right under the railway and return to Zandstraat where you started.