Weerdse Waters (13km)

Weerde is the only municipality that is completely surrounded by the Senne. You can speak here about a water municipality (cfr. moated castle).
This tour takes you along the water border of Weerde.
Exactly 13 km long, partly on well-walkable paved (tow) paths and partly unpaved.
Perfect for hikers / joggers who want to enjoy this part of Zennevalei car-free, and for whom a piece of unpaved road in nature is also appreciated.
It is also special that all Zennemeanders around Weerde are followed as much as possible. This is truly a unique situation between the South of Brussels (Beersel) and the mouth of the Senne in the Dyle (Zennegat): South of Weerde, the 'open' Senne had to endure drastic reductions in Vilvoorde (shortening and roofing of the - then terrible - smelly Senne) and by digging the canal-turning dock at the Burnt Bridge. The later construction of the Cargovil industrial zone above Vilvoorde has permanently caused many closed Zennemeanders to disappear underground. And above Weerde, several Zennemeanders along the trousers were shortened or closed. In Weerde they still have the 100% original Zennemeandering for the taking! Unique!

These 'Weerde Waters' therefore exploit this unique situation, but also take into account the jaw drop that the E19 has caused to this meandering: the slow road between Weerde and Hofstade over the Senne has been closed, and because it no longer allows a loop to be made with the small part of Zenne on the Vriezenbroek (east of the E19), this loop will see the Senne disappear under the E19, but a little later also reappear from the E19. See the POIs if you want to get an idea of the Zennemeanders during this beautiful nature exploration.

Various beautiful locations are addressed: Weerdemolen with toll tower, the 'scary' pedestrian-Zenne crossing on railway line 25, several Zennemeanders, Zenne crossing over lock gate at the confluence Zenne - Zenneverkorting, beautifully paved towpath along the Zenneverkorting, ... You can also catch the petting zoo 't Gulderijtje or a bird observation post at the fish pit along the way. View it all on the route plan above the map (click on POIs).

Directions:
Start at Ground Zero of the Weerdse Bierfeesten (South entrance of the fish pit, asphalt);
east side Fish pit (paved);
crossing under the Weerde-Hofstade railway line and chiro play forest (unpaved);
Zenne (unpaved), then follow the footpath in the roadside along railway line 25 Weerde-Mechelen (unpaved);
subsection under railway line 25 and Zennever discount to old Brusselsesteenweg (asphalt);
Senne and lock crossing at the Zenne-Zennever confluence (unpaved);
Zennever discount to the Senne in Eppegem (long paved towpath, then asphalt towards church Eppegem);
cross under railway line 25 and follow it on the left until the Senne (asphalt road and asphalt footpath);
Zennemeanders (follows unpaved all meanders in the valley;
beautiful view from the steel pedestrian bridge next to the railway bed;
old Weerdemolen with toll tower (used as a crossing of the meanders. Just over the Weerdemolen (after the 2 narrow bridges) you immediately turn left. This towpath is the most bumpy of the unpaved part along the Zennemeanders. You can possibly avoid this part and walk upstream to the next farm (150m) and take the concrete road (Hauwlandweg) to the left. This takes you a little further back to the Senne. The distance of the loop remains 13km);
Continue to follow Zennemeanders after the Zennebrug Damstraat (paved, last 200m to the Schumanlaan unpaved);
Turn left, back towards Visput (asphalt).

The Senne is crossed a total of 4 times, the shortening of the Senne 1 time.

Pay attention twice:
-->On departure you have a narrow crossing under the Weerde-Hofstade railway line on the E19 (dogs on a leash!).
-->At the end of the route, the Senne takes a cross under the Schumanlaan. This last part to the Schumanlaan is not always well maintained / mowed over 200m, and sometimes it is better to walk / step next to the roadside. On the busy Schumanlaan itself you have to go up the roadside for about four meters, after which you can take the cycle path on the left until the beer festivals.

Want to take a break with a drink? In Eppegem at the church (just about halfway) there are several possibilities. And at the end you can of course go to Café 't SchoonZicht opposite the Sint-Martinuskerk in Weerde.

Some high-resolution photos can be found here: https://picasaweb.google.com/112460872492478100936/WeerdeEnOmgeving