The best family-friendly hikes and walks in Cuesta Van Het Waasland Te Waasmunster

Walking, crawling, ... All fun

"Roosenberg" refers to the abbey that has since been abandoned by the Sisters of Franciscus, a design by Dom Hans Van der Laan, which Waasmunster is rightly so proud of. Here you walk a long way on the Durmedijk.

High on the south facade of the tower, a sundial can be seen. This was certainly the case at the end of the 19th century. During the restoration of the church in the 1990s, the original was replaced by a worthless copy (as we read in Astrolemma, the inventory of 218 sundials in East Flanders). In 2000, on the occasion of Open Monument Day, this copy was completely restored.

Between 1994 and 2015, twenty-two trees were planted in the park, symbolising laureates of the cultural prize. This annual municipal prize recognises an exceptional achievement or important contribution in the socio-cultural field. To honour them all, the twenty-two names are collected on a plaque on the wall of the castle and symbolically accompanied by a tree in the park. The 2018 laureate, Ivan Du-Tré, also features on this commemorative element. He was honoured as the author of the book 'Waasmunster in the Great War', a thorough reference work with short stories about life in our municipality during WWI. Source: information board on site

In five places in the Waasland (Lokeren, Waasmunster, Sint-Niklaas and 2 x Beveren) monuments have been placed in recent years that honour forgotten women (in a history dominated by men), who in one way or another left their mark on the region. Here: Clara-Maria Cocquyt. From farmer's daughter to maid and kitchen helper, the young Clara-Maria Cocquyt (1895-????) had a lot to offer, but growing up in a modest farming family, she did not have the opportunities to seize. When she was 14, she started as a maid here in Blauwendael Castle, with Baron Emile de Neve de Roden. Every day she got up early to clean the stoves and keep the house tidy ... It was quite hard work! She soon learned that there was a hierarchy among the staff, with all the consequences that entailed. Fortunately, Clara-Maria was an eager girl who fought back. In 1917, she exchanged her job as a maid for a better position as a kitchen helper in another castle. There she served for many years at the side of her future husband, who was a servant there. Source: information board on site

The name of the avenue refers to the former Boudelo Abbey, a Cistercian abbey in nearby Klein-Sinaai. The abbey, the most important abbey in Waasland in the late Middle Ages, was a daughter foundation of Cambron Abbey. After the monastic community was expelled from Waasland, the abbey briefly flourished again in Ghent. For those who know Ghent, the name "Baudelo" (with "au") undoubtedly rings a bell, among other things because of the Baudelo chapel (where "Holy Food" was located for a while) and - especially - because of the famous Baudolo park (officially actually "Baudelohof").

Behind the castle domain "Les Gobelets", parallel to the Oudeheerweg-Heide (where the castle's top driveway starts) you walk along open fields between De Vaag and the Roosenberg Abbey.

The abbey church is freely accessible. Be sure to step inside! The interior, just like the building itself, was designed by Hans van der Laan, and is downright unique in its sleek and sober design. Also note the mural on the back wall. It is a work by Théodore Stravinsky, son of the (equally deeply religious) Russian composer Igor Stravinsky. Anyone who - like me during my visit - can get past the painting further into the abbey will get an idea of how this modern building (it dates from 1975) is essentially constructed according to the classical abbey structure, with galleries around a square garden. You will also be shown a model of the building.