Around Kerkom

With this tour we end up in Kerkom with its spicy village center, between Leuven and Tienen. Kerkom is a hamlet in the municipality of Boutersem in Hageland, Flemish Brabant. A beautiful hiking destination with sights such as castles, farms, chapels, open fields and forest. You can also limit the walk to 5 km.

1. Starting point of this tour is the picturesque village of Kerkom (V) near Boutersem, in the southern Hageland. Between the Sint-Martinuskerk with the 13th-century tower and the castle with its English garden (private) you follow the cobblestones of the Kerkstraat. On a T at the Boerenzaal you cross the street diagonally to the right and turn into the Heilige Geesthofstraat. This leads to the H. Geesthoeve, a rustic bustling homestead in red brick, at the time owned by the hospies (the poorhouses) of Leuven. Turn right just before and follow the edge of the forest first. As soon as the road plunges into the forest, walk to the left and in a straight line to the Boskouterstraat, where you choose left again. Ignore the Chankelaarstraat and the Haarbeekweg and just before the first houses, at mailbox 66 on the left of the road, you also have to turn left. Along a grove you reach the Piekeskapelleke (1), under two very old chestnuts, with benches and a beautiful view over Kerkom. Just before the chapel you turn to the right. This way you reach the Boskouterstraat again. Follow it to the left until you reach the Malendriesstraat in the hamlet of Malendries (2), at café Sportlokaal. Here on the right. Those who want to keep it short (5 km) step left at the café until the chapel 130 m further; turn right there and then the first left.
2. If a road sign indicates that you are leaving Boutersem, take the Hertbosstraat a little further left, which is relegated to Hertbosweg 20 meters further. This is clearly an open field trip, with Hageland vastness everywhere. At a T follow Heideken, to the right, for 1 km. First past the Heikenshoeve, a pig farm, then to the Rozemarijnhoeve (3), a mixed farm. Both Lubbeek companies introduce themselves on an information board. Take the Rozemarijnweg on the left. At the end turn right and on the road immediately to the left, direction Drogenhof. After 200 m and just before the bend you have to turn left again, into the Butselbosstraat. You pass the large horse stable Oud Molenhuis and at the last house the gravel road turns into a sometimes muddy forest path. Follow the three bicycle indications here, but where they bend to the left, take the right. The forest path quickly takes you to a clearing where you step straight ahead. This (less clear, but public) path leads to open fields. Behind it in the distance is Boutersem village. Keep following the path that turns to the right and takes you into the forest. Soon it makes a sharp left turn and descends between the fields.
3. This will take you to a narrow, grassy field road, which you follow to the right. At the first intersection of field roads turn left, at the next intersection also and then take the first road on the right. You cross a few mini forests and arrive in a residential area. The earth road becomes an asphalt track and you follow it for about 50 meters to house number 24. Pay attention to the right pole of the gate. There is another walking sign of Pasar. Just before house number 24, take the rising footpath 37 of Boutersem on the left. After a sharp right turn you come back to asphalt. Here just left and then you are at the Chapel of Our Lady of Sterreborne (5). A time-honored pilgrimage chapel (rebuilt in 1894; mostly open) with remarkable stained glass windows and a legendary spring, in front under a separate chapel. Past the chapel, on the T, turn right and the first left, into the Smisveldstraat. After the last house, no. 73, turn right. Already in the first bend you leave the asphalt and follow straight ahead the Butselbos hiking trail, again into the open field. Continue to the end and swing to the right there. You now walk behind the castle domain of Kerkom and also see the lofty church reappear. One more time you have to turn left on the stone road and you are again under the tower.