Hiking on the Hoge Kempen National Park Munsterbos Trail
Munsterbos Trail
Start
Start: Munsterbilzen
Your hiking adventure begins in Munsterbilzen, a village with a rich monastic history. According to legend, Saint Landrada founded a religious community for women here in the 7th century. Today, an immersive exhibition in the abbess’s residence tells the story of these devoted women. A short distance away, the Museum Church is also well worth a visit. Here you can learn more about the history of Munsterbilzen, its former religious institutions, and the noble ladies’ chapter. The latter was a church community for women of aristocratic origin.
Start: Munsterbilzen (car park near Appelboomgaardstraat, Munsterbilzen)
Edelhof Castle Park
Edelhof Castle Park is a beautiful English-style landscape park you’ll pass on your way to the trail. After the French Revolution, the castle came into the possession of the De Matthys family, who transformed it into a stately mansion. Both the castle and the park have recently been carefully restored, bringing their former grandeur back to life.
Lijkendreef
Lijkendreef, which sounds rather macabre in Dutch as it literally means 'Dead Body Lane', owes its name to the former residents of Zangerhei Castle. The road past the castle used to be the shortest route between the village and the cemetery. At the beginning of the 20th century, however, the castle owners grew tired of the frequent funeral processions passing their property and closed the route. As a result, the processions had to take a detour to reach the church and cemetery, and the road soon became known as Lijkendreef.
Albert Canal
The province of Limburg has a rich coal-mining history. You can still see traces of it today, not only in former mining sites but also in infrastructure such as the Albert Canal. Built in 1930, the canal allowed coal from the region’s mines to be transported efficiently. Today, it remains an important freight route while also providing a scenic backdrop for walkers.
De Hoefaert Nature Reserve
Leaving the canal behind, the trail leads you back into nature at De Hoefaert Nature Reserve. Located on the edge of the Kempen Plateau, this lush green area features a mosaic of woodland, meadows, old fishponds and pools. The fast-flowing Munsterbeek stream runs through the countryside, making it both ecologically rich and visually striking.
“Zwarte Put” Silence Zone
What could be more beautiful than the sounds of untouched nature? In the Zwarte Put, that’s exactly what you’ll hear. This designated silence zone lies where the Kempen landscape meets the fruit-growing region of Haspengouw, blending characteristics of both. That almost sacred silence gains an extra layer of charm thanks to a touch of poetry. Along the way you’ll pass “silence stones” engraved with texts by renowned Belgian writers such as Jeroen Brouwers, Bernard Dewulf, and Leonard Nolens.
Bezoensberg
Until the 18th century, Zutendaal consisted largely of heathland. Over time the area became heavily forested, but one small section still reflects the historic landscape. Through selective tree felling, careful mowing, and grazing sheep, a traditional heathland habitat has been preserved exactly as it used to be. This two-hectare heath can be found on the slopes of Bezoensberg.
Fish Ponds
At the beginning of the 17th century, humans began shaping this landscape for fish farming. A series of state fishponds were created by flooding lower-lying meadows with water from the Bezoensbeek stream. The ponds were linked through an overflow system, allowing them to be drained one by one to harvest the fish. After the area became a nature reserve, the historic pond management system was restored.
St Amor Chapel
The chapel, called Sint Amorskapel in Dutch, was built after World War II. It was constructed using materials salvaged from the former station platform and old canon houses in Munsterbilzen, which had been badly damaged by German bombs during the war. The chapel is dedicated to Saint Amor, the patron saint of the abbey.
Finish: Munsterbilzen village
Your hike through three remarkable natural areas ends where it began: in the welcoming village of Munsterbilzen. If you haven’t yet visited the Museum Church, now is the perfect time to step inside. Already explored it? Then relax and reflect on your hike over a meal or drink – for instance at Bistro Edelhof.
Finish
