The best cycling routes around Schulensmeer

One of the many beautiful views of Schulens Lake...

Mayor Henry Briers unveiled the war memorial on the Gemeenteplein on September 17, 1922. It is the only known memorial monument by the Vilvoorde architect Alfred Minner. The limestone memorial features a gilded bronze Belgian soldier's helmet resting on the Limburg coat of arms and a laurel wreath. Below it, stylized flames on the four sides refer to the 63 houses that were razed by the Germans in 1914. Below that is a small cross. After WWII, the years 1914, 1918, 1940, 1945 were added. At the bottom, we read "Eternally free and happy in peace". On the west side, 14 names of Lummen soldiers who did not survive World War I are carved. On the east side, the names of 4 Lummen civilian victims are carved. On the back, we read 'Henry Briers mayor of Lummen on September 17, 1922'. @https://www.tracesofwar.nl/sights/145587/Monument-Eerste-Wereldoorlog-Lummen.htm

A charming little restaurant with a large terrace and a beautiful view of Schulensmeer lake. The terrace is the perfect place for visitors to share their stories.

The Schulensmeer is the largest inland lake in Flanders. Numerous benches invite you to take a break.

Hill on which a vineyard is located near the village of Molenbeek.

Gothic church on the following plan: a square west tower (13th century), now built in, with an adjoining five-sided southern stair tower, now located in the later added right aisle. A three-aisled nave of three bays (nave from the late 14th to early 15th century, aisles possibly from the mid-16th century), transept arms of one bay (1552), and a choir of three straight bays with three-sided openings, flanked by sacristies. The dating of the choir is unclear; since it is made entirely of iron sandstone, it could have been built simultaneously with the nave. The northern sacristy has an old core, possibly dating from the church's expansion in the mid-16th century, but was later adapted and extensively restored. In the 19th century, the south transept arm was raised, while the north aisle and transept arm were completely replaced by new structures; the south sacristy also dates entirely from this period. The upper tower section dates from the restoration campaign after the First World War. After being damaged in 1940, the church was restored again. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Parish Church of St. Peter in Banden, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/21764

The forest is characterized by a wide variety of tree species of various ages. Surrounded by agricultural lands and old standard orchards, some trees in this forest have survived since 1900. It's no wonder that tree-dwellers like the squirrel and the woodpecker thrive in Sint-Jansberg. Even the deadwood teems with life. Its history is closely linked to the neighboring Carthusian Monastery, so the estate forest also holds significant archaeological value. So far, eight hectares of the field surrounding the Carthusian Monastery has been reforested with native tree species. Sint-Jansberg, along with Rotbroek and Gorenbroek, forms part of the larger Borchbeemden area.

The cyclist carabiniers initially defended Halen, which was soon captured by the Germans. The Belgian troops then withdrew to the western edge of Halen, bordered by the railway embankment, where they set up machine guns. The cyclists withdrew a second time, towards the IJzerwinningshoeve (Iron Extraction Farm), where the main Belgian force was stationed. But just after crossing the sunken road of the Betserbaan (where the monument stands), the German cavalry launched a charge, trapping the cyclists between the Belgian defenses in the IJzerwinningshoeve and the advancing German cavalry. The cyclists were literally caught between two fires and suffered significant casualties. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Halen Battlefield, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/300946