Easy hikes and walks in Binnenbos En Omgeving

It is very nice and quiet to walk here.

The Willeborrebeek Valley is a recognised nature reserve. A Flemish nature reserve (VNR) is a nature reserve owned by the Flemish Region and managed by the Flemish government, and in particular by the Agency for Nature and Forests. In contrast to this are the recognised nature reserves, which are nature areas owned by organisations or private individuals and managed by nature associations, such as Natuurpunt and Limburgs Landschap vzw, and recognised as a nature reserve and subsidised by the Flemish government.

Here you have a beautiful open view over the fields.

Always worth reading. You will definitely learn something.

Situated in a rural area with meadows, park and adjacent domain of the Bautersemhof. Country house with neoclassical character, built in the early 19th century by Lord van Hal, later owned by the Montens du Bois family (see Massenhoven), sold in 1923 together with surrounding forests, lands and farms to the Brijdenbach family. Various renovations in 1925. Plastered and painted double house on a roughly square ground plan, four bays and two storeys + basement under a slate and hipped roof (ridge parallel to the street); cornice facades with delineating articulated roof molding and cornice on blocks. Rectangular wall openings in flat band framing. Staggered western front facade with irregular gable and square tower, round arch windows; terrace and curved staircase with iron railing. Late-classical coach house from the early 19th century; five + three bays under a flat roof. Plastered and painted list facades with delineating articulated cordon. Partly closed, rectangular windows, round arch windows and segmental arch gates with beautiful rod division in recessed wall surfaces. Source: PLOMTEUX G., STEYAERT R. & WYLLEMAN L. 1985: Inventory of cultural heritage in Belgium, Architecture, Province of Antwerp, District of Antwerp, Building through the ages in Flanders 10n3 (Ru-Z), Brussels - Ghent. Authors: Steyaert, Rita Date: 1985 The text is provided by: Agency for Immovable Heritage (AOE)

Former census court of Bautersem, situated in a beautiful park (see Ferraris map), with bird sanctuary, double 8-shaped moat with a hundred-year-old cedar in front of the castle. Originally (13th century) fenced farm, named after the Bautersem family of which Hendrik IV van Bautersem was already mentioned in 1270 as lord of Zandhoven. In the 17th century converted into a court of plaisance; 19th century conversions including extensions on the east and west sides, south facade and roof. Access via a bridge and brick round-arched passage with keystone and imposts to the east and west flanked by anchored and painted brick service buildings under a hipped saddle roof (Flemish tiles, ridge parallel to the street), from the second half of the 18th century or early 19th century (?), rectangular and arched wall openings. Country house on a rectangular plan, originally four (ground floor) and five + two bays and two storeys under a slate hipped roof (19th century, ridge parallel to the street) on which a roof turret with clock; currently flanked by 19th century extensions of one + one bay under perpendicular hipped roofs. Brick cornice facades, deplastered in 1967, on a natural stone plinth. Anchored northern front facade marked by string courses, scaffolding holes and corner blocks, the latter between the first and second, sixth and seventh bays. Renewed rectangular shuttered windows, rectangular door with decorative fan in a bluestone frame, square keystone and imposts.

Bautersemhof Castle (also: Boutersemhof) is a castle in the Antwerp town of Zandhoven, located at Boutersemdreef 15. This is the former tax farm of the Bautersem family that was already mentioned in 1270. At that time it was a farm, which was converted into a country estate in the 17th century. Renovations and extensions also took place in the 19th century. The domain is surrounded by a figure-8 moat and is entered over a bridge and through a gate that is flanked on the left and right by service buildings from around 1800. A second bridge leads to the square in front of the castle. This building has a rectangular plan. In front of the castle is a cedar that is more than 100 years old. There is a bird reserve near the castle. The domain borders the Binnenbos.

Definitely read it. You always learn something.