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New 90-kilometer hiking trail to connect Halle with Leuven, becoming longest in Flemish Brabant

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • A new 90-kilometer hiking trail connecting Halle and Leuven will open in 2028, becoming the longest in Flemish Brabant.
  • The trail, part of the Brabantse Wouden National Park, will feature five unique rest stops integrated into the landscape.
  • The project aims to offer intimate encounters with nature and heritage, with an estimated budget of 500,000 euros.

A new multi-day hiking trail spanning approximately 90 kilometers is set to connect the towns of Halle and Leuven, winding through the Brabantse Wouden National Park. Scheduled to open in 2028, this ambitious project will become the longest hiking trail in the province of Flemish Brabant.

The route is designed to be completed over four days, offering hikers a comprehensive experience of the region's natural beauty, including well-known areas like the Hallerbos, Zoniënwoud, and the Laan valley. For those seeking shorter excursions, smaller loops will also be available. A key feature of the trail will be five distinct rest stops, envisioned not as conventional picnic areas but as small, landscape-integrated meeting points designed for visitors to pause, enjoy the scenery, and find tranquility in nature.

These are small-scale places that can really surprise you: locations that blend beautifully with the surroundings and invite you to pause. Ideal for picnicking, enjoying a view, or simply relaxing in the green.

— Tom DehaeneDescribing the concept and appeal of the planned rest stops along the trail.

These intimate gathering spots are planned for locations such as the Zevenbronnen nature reserve, the Arboretum of Tervuren, the village center of Sint-Agatha-Rode, and the Herculessalon in Meerdaalwoud. Additional experiential elements will be added at the trail's start and end points: the Sint-Martinus Basilica in Halle and the Park Abbey in Leuven. The project emphasizes "warm, intimate encounters with nature and heritage" rather than mass tourism, according to Tom Dehaene, deputy for Tourism.

The National Park Brabantse Wouden selected a specialized design team from over 60 applicants to develop the rest stops. With an estimated budget of 500,000 euros, the first rest stops and trail signage are expected to be ready by 2028, with the full realization of the project to follow.

No mass tourism, but warm, intimate encounters with nature and heritage in the National Park.

— Tom DehaeneExplaining the project's focus on personal experiences with nature and local heritage.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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