Rarely do green spaces and housing go hand in hand. In Keerbergen, this succeeds, albeit with a hefty price tag. Walk through Hilversum on the Dijle, biotope of the Flemish television faces.

---------------------------------------------------
Text and photo Chris Van Minnebruggen
--------------------------------------------------

King Auto reigns on the town square, but behind the Sint-Michielskerk you dive into the greenery of the Broekelei nature reserve. Pollard willows, deciduous and coniferous forests, a wooden path winds for a few kilometers through silence and greenery until you reach the Dijle. Follow this through open farmland to the Old Hans Bridge. Only cyclists and pedestrians are still allowed to cross the cast-iron relic from the industrial revolution.

Afterwards, you move through residential areas with plenty of greenery. Villas, farms, and modernist architecture, even the Art Deco gem of the former luxury hotel Le Grand Veneur proudly stands there, separated by gardens and pine forests. Enough inspiration for those who are favorably disposed by fate. Also visit the De Botermolen Museum. The local historical society collects horse-drawn carriages there. And even though its last meal was about forty years ago, the Heimolen still stands proudly.

The route
-------------------------------------------
Start at the town square and its modern Sint-Michielskerk (1) with the protected Van Peteghem organ. Behind the church, go along Oudstrijderslaan and turn right onto Papestraat. Turn right through the Broekelei and follow after the container park - at the Natuurpunt Broekelei sign - right into the Spuibeekwanderung, indicated by a yellow ball. Along decking, through mixed deciduous and coniferous forests, through pastures for Galloway cattle, occasionally a residential street and even more forest until the banks of the Dijle.

Turn left and follow the gravel path along the Dijle, meandering through the open landscape with cattle and fields, until you reach the Old Hans Bridge (2). Turn left onto Haachtsebaan, which you should follow on the opposite side for safety. At house number 158, turn left onto the forest path. Right over the asphalt of Karkietweg and at the T turn left onto Dijlestraat. At house number 54, there is a picnic bench (3). Continue to the right into Klimopdreef. At the fork, turn left and then at the intersection, diagonally right, continuing on Klimopdreef. At the T, turn right into Kasteeldreef and at the intersection, turn right. Opposite the Brasserie ’t Kasteel with the Botermolen Museum (4), take the left onto Eeuwfeestlaan. At the T, turn right onto Nindsebaan and at Oude Putsebaan, go straight over gravel to an intersection. Turn left onto Leopold Peerelaan. At Tremelobaan, turn right onto Vlieghavenlaan, immediately right into the beautifully restored building of Le Grand Veneur (5).

Turn right to the Royal Athenaeum and then left into Torteldreef. At the Pommelsven nature reserve, turn right onto Jachthoorndreef. At the end, turn left onto Achiel Cleynhenslaan until you reach Heimolen (6) with another picnic bench. Cross left over the cobblestone path of Berkendreef. At Tremelobaan, turn right onto Eikenstraat and at the intersection, continue right onto Lindenstraat. Follow left until Haachtsebaan and then turn right onto the Old Pastorijweg. Turn right until reaching Oudstrijderslaan. Turn left and go another 100 meters to Sint-Michielskerk.