Directions:

Exit the parking lot towards Belfius LA, with the Hopmarkt and the statue of the hopduvel on the right side. Turn left onto “Arsenaalstraat”; just past the left bend, take a footpath on the right next to house number 28 RA. At the end of this path RA, pass the water tower. This will lead you to the “Boekfos,” which you cross and continue on the pavement RA until the next street LA “Langevijver,” where you immediately take the path on the left. You walk along the green area of Boekvos, a beautiful piece of nature, and emerge onto “Witteramsdal,” which you leave to the RA. Continue along this road until the next path on the left LA, which you follow, turning right at the end, and you will end up on “Terlindenweg” there LA. Past house number 122, take the dirt path RA; at the end, you will arrive at “Muzeumstraat,” where RA you follow this road to the end, where RA is “Mazier.”

Continue following this road to “Kruisborreweg” here LA. Here begins the “pilgrimage route,” known as “weg-oem” in Asse. Follow this path to the junction here RA; at the next junction LA, continue following this path until the next junction, where RA brings you to the “stone road to Edingen,” which you cross and continue on the footpath to LA, a bit further RA. Follow this path to the right; at the end RA is “Zavellos.” Follow this road to the end, landing on “Heedstraat” here LA. Follow this descending road to the right, keeping to the right at the junction, up the steep “Geertskouter.” At the end of the road LA and in front of the restaurant “Hof ten Eenhoorn” LA, continue following this path to the right, and at the second turn RA, you will end up on the “Broekebaan.” Continue following this path, ignoring all turns or streets until you reach “Koensborre.” Here RA, follow the street to the parking lot, crossing here to the right at the lights onto “Nieuwstraat,” here LA and immediately RA, cross the footpath to the left, then RA until the next street “Sint Martinusstraat” LA, keeping to the right. This will take you to the parking lot, with the Sint-Martinus church on the left, and via “Kattestraat,” you will reach the “Hopmarkt” again.

Sights:

“The Hopmarkt.” This square has existed since the early Middle Ages and now serves as the center of Asse. There are some houses dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. House number 53 is built in Spanish style and is by far the most beautiful. The stone above the entrance door states the date 1731. A bronze statue of the Hopduvel hangs on the Market. The hopduvel is the symbol of the summer storms that slam the hop poles to the ground. Meanwhile, hop cultivation has nearly completely disappeared from the region. “The Kruisborreweg” leads to the “kruisbron”. Here begins the “pilgrimage route.” The legend tells how in the Middle Ages, during Easter, an old and poor woman promised some Jews that for a bit of money, she would bring them a Holy Host to desecrate. Plagued by remorse, she, however, hid the Holy Communion in an old tree, which suddenly began to bloom. Believers came from everywhere to witness this miracle. An angry farmer who wanted to chop down the rotten tree saw how the blood-colored splinters fell crosswise. And thus began the “legend of the miraculous crosses of Asse.” The “Kruisborrekapel,” hidden in the foliage, was built in 1622 due to the growing devotion to the Holy Cross. The chapels you pass were erected by pilgrims as a thank you for favors received. The first stop is the chapel of “O.L.Vrouw-van-zeven-Smarten,” then the “Sint-Jozefkapel,” “Kruis van Sjat,” then follows the “Lourdeskapel” before you cross the stone road to Edingen on the right “Kapel van Sint Antonius.” “Hof ten Eenhoorn,” formerly a farm-brewery.