Kortenberg combines the history of the abbey with trails through wetlands and forests. When choosing what to do during your stay, it is worth considering whether your priority is cultural heritage, nature watching or a particular trail length: options range from a park with seating to short walking paths and longer running and hiking routes. This makes it easy to plan your activities around your own interests.
Abbey history and ecclesiastical heritage
Kortenberg Abbey has stood at its present location since 1222. On 27 September 1312, Duke Jan II of Brabant signed the Charter of Kortenberg there. It established a permanent council, or parliament, comprising four nobles and ten representatives of the towns of Leuven, Brussels, Antwerp, ’s-Hertogenbosch, Tienen and Zoutleeuw. This links the abbey’s long history at the site with a specific political agreement. In 2005, it was designated a protected monument by a Flemish ministerial decree.
The park of the Oude Abdij van Kortenberg has been open to the public since late 2010. Beneath old trees, there are places to sit with a view of the abbey building or the pond—a quieter, more contemplative feature alongside the historical themes. De Bouwerij adds another dimension to the story, highlighting the agricultural use of the abbey grounds: the farm for arable farming was located within the abbey walls. The present-day building is believed to date from 1732.
The churches also offer specific points of interest in art and local history. Kortenberg’s Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk has a 17th-century stone baptismal font with a copper lid, as well as a Late Gothic Madonna dating from around 1500. The Sint-Amanduskerk in Erps was a pilgrimage centre where Saint Barbara, Saint Marcoen and Saint Cornelius were especially venerated. The Sint-Petruskerk van Kwerps houses a protected organ that Pastor Delvaux bought from the church in Diegem in 1791; the church was also a place of pilgrimage to Saint Catherine. Affligem Abbey had Meerbeek’s new rectory built in 1741.
Wetlands, forest and wildlife
Silsombos is a wetland with a varied landscape. The Weesbeek, Zuurbeek and Molenbeek flow through it on their way to the Dijle, further north. Boardwalks make it easier to walk in several places. The area’s plant and bird life are also notable: seven orchid species bloom here, and birds found in the area include nightingales, reed warblers, song thrushes and bluethroats.
Three signposted routes are available for a shorter or longer walk in Silsombos: the red route, covering 3.2 kilometres; the Erdgas nature walk, covering 6.2 kilometres; and the Olmenhoekwandeling, covering 2.2 kilometres. The different distances make it easier to decide how much walking to fit into your day. Warandebos offers a different landscape: this woodland covers about 70 hectares. Its varied elevations and soils contribute to its rich flora. The ice cellar in the forest now serves as a wintering site for bats.
Rotte Gaten is a wet carr-forest and marsh area near the centre of Meerbeek, with wet woodland, marshy grassland and bogs. Kingfishers nest there among the roots of fallen trees. For walkers, the Heuvelkantwandeling combines several different landscape impressions in one route: it leads through fields and forests, reaches a viewpoint overlooking the village, passes the ’t Vossenhol playground and picnic area, and then continues through Eikenbos and Rotte Gaten.
Choose routes by length and type
If you are looking specifically for a circular walk, Molenbeekvallei nature area has a signposted 5-kilometre route. It starts at the car park by Beisem church. The Troostpad is also a loop, following quiet footpaths from the place of consolation in Everberg to the place of consolation at the Meerbeek rectory and back. For a short activity break, there is the 1-kilometre Beweegroute, with 15 signs showing simple exercises for endurance, balance and strength. It is freely accessible, and no sportswear is required.
The running routes also differ in how they are marked and how long they are. The running routes in Kortenberg are marked with coloured signposts and symbols in the shape of running triangles. The digital running route 30.70, by contrast, is a 30.70-kilometre loop through the entire municipality; it is not signposted and is followed using GPS. The signposted walks are available digitally via the municipal website and can be printed or downloaded to a GPS device. This lets you choose in advance between a signposted walk, a short walking path and a longer GPS loop.
Discover more destinations: Erps-Kwerps, Walhain, Holsbeek, Jette, Vilvoorde, Villers-La-Ville, Oud-Heverlee, Merchtem.
For the broader travel overview: Brabant.
