Chasing Pallieter

1. This walk does not start at its best, but that gradually improves. Choose along the road from Berlaar (near Lier) to Herenthout (under Herentals) for the parking 150 m on the right past the Kruiskensberg. With your back to the traffic, walk on the path on the left at the P of the parking lot (a round prohibition plate also hangs on the same pole). 10 meters before the fence at the bungalow with number 16 (the number 16 can no longer be seen) you walk left into the not so often used forest path and then right onto the lane until the junction with the agglomeration sign Herenthout. There you choose the asphalt road on the right, the Niemandshoek. At the crossroads, turn left. Follow the road until the next intersection where you turn right onto the Bevelsesteenweg. 250 m further you take the forest path on the left, even before café Prinsenhof. We follow the cycle junction 22. A straight gravel path sends you straight into the Merode forests. A kilometer further you take the second path after the Gordinneloop. This is to continue to follow cycle junction 22. Past the two iron barriers, which can sometimes be open, choose the first path on the right. You walk straight on to a fence. Again you turn right and again past two iron gates, sometimes open, you take the first road on the left. Walking straight ahead you will come back to the Bevelsesteenweg.
2. Cross carefully and go straight into Binnenstraat. You come to a T. Turn right and immediately left again, into an unsightly path where there is a pole with indication for walking junction 90. At the end we walk on the wide cinder road straight on to the end of that road in front of the meadow. Here we turn right. Follow the winding cinder road straight on until the asphalt road. You are in the right place if you come across a walking junction post with indication of direction 88 and also a chalet of the Allied Veterans. Here you turn left and then 50 m further the first cinder road on the right. This road is called Herlaar. This way you get on private property, but you can walk there at your own risk. After the farm you follow the bend to the right and you can walk to the gate of the castle of Herlaer. It is a real water castle, built by the lords of Berlaer after the battle of Woeringen in 1288. In 1704 it was completely rebuilt. You can't visit the castle, but we thought this place was worth a detour. Especially with that old water mill next to it, built on top of the Wimp.
3. You return on your steps to the asphalt road where you turn left. We follow this winding asphalt road to a farm. Where we encounter cycle junction 33. Here you turn left again and follow to cycle junction 25. From the farm, take the wide cinder road between the trees. The road makes a little further to the right and then goes straight to the Nete and 't Schipke. 't Schipke was already known in 1900 as a farm, inn and ferry across the Nete. In 1949 a bridge was built and the ferry disappeared. The inn remained and the old café of the past has now become a modern tavern. The environment also changed. The Netedijken were raised, the bridge became a sturdy pedestrian bridge and quite a few canada trees fell.
4. You cross the pedestrian bridge and follow the Netedijk on the right, all the way to the Hullebrug on the Bevelsesteenweg. Cross the bridge and return along the other bank of the Nete. Just when you get back in sight of 't Schipke in the distance, a path for dog lovers (note the blue sign) leads to the left. Always go straight ahead (signposted junction 02) until you reach Kruiskensberg and chapel. The story goes that a sickly shepherd healed there in 1260 after drinking water from a spring. Other fever sufferers who followed his example also became healthy again. Today there is a protected chapel, a large cast iron cross, a series of small chapels with the stations of the cross and five miserable wells. They replace the ancient source and symbolize Christ's wounds. On Good Friday, a relic is venerated and many Kempen residents come to the bustling Kruiskensmarkt. We just walk up the path on the right and find the car 150 m further.