Nieuwenrode, the Brussels hinterland

Nieuwenrode is a rural part of Kapelle-op-den-Bos, located in the Green Belt near Meise. It was always a wooded municipality, of which the large Gravenbos still bears witness today.

Text and photo Guido Elias
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This walk starts at Community Center De Oude Pastorie, a former nunnery that was beautifully restored and where exhibitions now regularly take place. You can also go here for tourist information about the region. The tour partly follows the 'Nieuwenroodse wandeling' (hexagonal signs, red inscription). It goes along quiet – often slow – roads through fields, along fields and meadows. You also walk a long way along the Brussels-Scheldt canal, one of the oldest canals in Europe. Halfway you can relax at the Lourdes grotto of Humbeek, founded by the kajotters and consecrated by Cardinal Cardijn. Then it also goes through the Gravenbos, a 100 ha extensive private domain with a beautiful castle and mixed deciduous forest in the Senne valley.

The route
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From the car park at CC De Oude Pastorie past the church (right hand), follow the signs 'Nieuwenroods Wandelpad'. At bend RD, before gate farm LA, follow path along wall, then follow RA asphalt road, T-junction, follow Paddegatstraat to the left. Continue RD in Nieuwenrodestraat direction Wolvertem. Ignore street on the right. Past war memorial RD on beautiful footpath. At home with inscription 'Pharmacy' RA in the Mennaertstraat. Becomes field road between fields (wide view), over asphalt, at T-junction with chapel LA over asphalt. To Kluisstegel RA, asphalt follow. Past the large fence, follow Armbosch Stegel, over wide field road and follow RA. Between fields, after 50 m LA turn. At T-junction RA, always follow asphalt road. Another T-junction, slightly larger road, now LA. This is the Molenstraat. Always RD (ignore street to butcher shop and Veldstraat). Always take the footpath! Leave at bend main road, RA (Dark Ham), in bend LA and then immediately RA (Vaartstraat). At T-junction RA direction Containerpark. RD, at container park you reach the canal.

Always follow the RD channel (you now leave the Nieuwenroods hiking trail at the bank). Follow the towpath along the canal for about 1.9 km to the Lourdes grotto of Humbeek. Now RA through the drive and after 400 m RA through the forest, after 400 m LA and after 120 m slight bend to the right and over narrow forest road further, then after 750 m RA. After 400 m you reach the Spenaardstraat, here LA past bicycle shop Emrin. You are back on Nieuwenrood's hiking trail that you follow further RD. Turn along (Ipsvoordestraat) and then after 200 m RA (field road). Between fences, end of path LA and follow wider path (horse pasture), always RD, on the right is chapel Peerdhof, LA now past orchard, turn right, follow path RD along orchard, at end T-junction RA along stone road and just before cemetery take LA field road, after 250 m RA, narrow path, end of grove LA and then RA until road, cross and RD over narrow asphalt path, at the end RA you reach back the Oude Pastorie.