During this walk, we follow the hiking junctions of the Flemish Brabant hiking network (Brabantse Kouters). Our route takes us through the Kravaal Forest, a green area of great value.

Text and photo Eddy Vlyminck

The peaceful village of Mazenzele, located on the edge of Flemish Brabant and East Flanders, was once called 'the white village'. When the many high-stem orchards with cherry trees were in full bloom in spring, the numerous blossoms created an overwhelming white color. By the way, at the beginning of the walk, we follow part of a designated 'Cherry Walk'. The Kravaal Forest is the remnant of a huge forest that was owned by the Affligem Abbey in the Middle Ages. The currently 80 ha large forest lies mostly in the territory of Meldert and is of great value, thanks to a number of spring areas and stream valleys. We traverse this forest both at the beginning and at the end of the walk.

Pasar 2020/12-1 - Last route check 2020/10

The route

Start at the St. Peter's Church in Mazenzele (V). Public transport: bus 23 or 24, stop Village. With your back to the church, walk towards the busy Dendermondsesteenweg. Cross at the traffic lights and after 75 m turn right to WKP 716. You are now walking on a piece of the Cherry Walk marked with hexagonal signs. After some zigzagging, you reach WKP 716. From here you have a beautiful view of the Kravaal Forest and the rolling landscape. Turn left to WKP 71. Via a path that can be very muddy after rain, you reach WKP 71. Further on to WKP 70 (1) and there, turn right along a beautiful forest path, to WKP 70 and WKP 26. Here turn right to WKP 48 and WKP 98. You walk past an imposing villa on your left. At WKP 98, turn left to WKP 47. Here go straight ahead, in an open landscape, towards a large farm and WKP 99. At the information board and chapel (2), turn right to WKP 99. After about 200 m on the wide bike path, turn left onto Putveldweg. Follow until WKP 99. Turn right to WKP 40. Via a narrow path, between fields and meadows, and Eeckhoutstraat, you reach WKP 40 at the church of Meldert (3). Turn left to WKP 41 and further to WKP 38. Go straight past some soccer fields on the right. At WKP 38, turn right to WKP 37. At the roadway, turn briefly right and in the bend, turn left onto Walburgaweg. At house number 36, turn right. Walk, between weekend houses and fields, to WKP 37 and further to WKP 36. Here, at the T-junction, turn right to WKP 35. Be careful near the roadway! Cross the road carefully and via Maaldershofstraat to the chapel at Petronellaberg (4). After a short climb, just before house number 23, turn right. You pass a few houses and then through a substantial stretch of fields and meadows until you reach a roadway. Turn right and after 50 m, you reach WKP 35. Here go straight ahead to WKP 73. Always follow WKP 73, and you will reach the Kravaal Forest again. At the yellow-brown barrier, you reach WKP 73. Go straight ahead to WKP 74. Here turn right to WKP 716. Just before you reach WKP 716, you pass another information board. At WKP 716, turn left to WKP 717 at the starting point, the church of Mazenzele.