The best traffic-free bike rides around Malle

History The chapel was erected in 1626. At that time, the region was plagued by a pest epidemic. Legend has it that about 60 inhabitants of Oostmalle fled the village with the disease to the heath at Zalfen. Adriaan Mattheeusen, an inhabitant of Zalfen, who lost some of his children to the epidemic, was obliged to bury them in the heath and erected a chapel in their memory. Soon, the chapel served for funeral services, and the dead were buried in the adjacent cemetery. The chapel soon became an attraction for pilgrims. For this reason, it was enlarged in 1726 to its current appearance (see upper part in the side gable dated by means of sintered stone). The chapel is depicted on Ferraris' cabinet map (1770-1778) on a triangular plot of heath. A loop of tall trees surrounds the chapel. On Vandermaelen's map (1846-1854), the chapel is located south of the Salphen road, amidst a triangular forest plot. Description The Sint-Antonius chapel of Salphen is located south of the Salphen road, an old avenue of predominantly tall English oaks (Quercus robur), and is surrounded by tall trees (mainly Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris). It is an oriented brick chapel with a three-sided closed west facade and a lower rectangular choir under slate gable roofs (ridge parallel to the street) with a bell tower. On the east side, there are two tuit-gables on shoulder pieces with crenellations. On the north side, there are rectangular windows and a basket-arch door and a basket-arch door. The plastered and painted interior has a wooden frame with a tie beam. The furniture includes an altar from the 19th century and a painted wooden statue of Saint Anthony Abbot (late 15th or early 16th century).

Beautiful path to cycle along with a nice view of the passing ships.

The Hofmolen or Kasteelmolen is a watermill in the village of Viersel, part of the Zandhoven municipality in Antwerp, located at Herentalsebaan 203. As early as 1210, there was a watermill at this location. It was owned by the Abbey of Tongerlo. During the religious wars of the late 16th century, the mill fell into disuse and disrepair. From 1630-1638, work was carried out on a new mill commissioned by the Van de Werve family, residents of Kasteel Hovorst, and in 1662 the mill was rebuilt in stone. In 1882-1886, the mill was rebuilt again and the current buildings are almost entirely from that period. In 1963, the milling operations ceased. In 2013, a fish ladder was built next to the mill.

If you want to visit, quickly cross the border and go back. Has to be a bucket list thing

The Hofmolen or Kasteelmolen in Viersel, a sub-municipality of Zandhoven. This historic building is a former grain watermill located on the Herentalsebaan. Historical location: The mill is situated near the castle of Hovorst, and the history of both is closely linked. Year of construction: The current mill was largely rebuilt in the second half of the 19th century, although its origins date back to 1662. Structure: It is a rare example of a watermill with outbuildings that is part of a castle domain. Protected heritage: The complex is registered in the inventory of immovable heritage.

The St. Anthony's Chapel is a chapel in the hamlet of Zalfen, located near Salphen, which is part of the Antwerp municipality of Malle. Nearby Oostmalle was hit by a plague epidemic around 1625. Around 60 sick people reportedly fled to the heath. A certain Adriaan Mattheeusen, who lost three children to the disease, had to bury them on the heath and built a chapel for this purpose. This chapel was soon also used for funeral services, and the deceased were buried in a nearby cemetery. The chapel attracted pilgrims and was therefore expanded in 1726. https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sint-Antoniuskapel_(Zalfen)

Pleasant cycling on that cycle path.

Pleasant cycling on very good cycle paths.