A water-rich journey, along the Dijle, dead embankments and sweet waters, to the Meerdaal forest

To the south of Leuven, the Dijle has largely been freed to find its way through the valley. As a result, it is highly meandering and has a largely unspoiled character, which is quite unique in Flanders. Due to the effects of flow and deposition, floodplains, depressions, and subtle height differences in the landscape were created during the Ice Ages. From the early Middle Ages, this area experienced a gradual agricultural development. To drain the wet depressions, an extensive system of leibridges and leichannels was constructed in the valleys, into which numerous shorter ditches flow. Although marshy areas had little strategic military importance, Count de Ferraris still created detailed maps of this backyard of Leuven in the 18th century. This shows that the valley forests were largely replaced by an open landscape of grasslands and fields. During this walk, you will discover several buildings, roads, and landscape elements that also appear on the Ferraris map. Experience this piece of living history in the footsteps of the cartographers of Ferraris.

It is possible to shorten the walk to 8.5 km or 11.3 km.