The best walks and hikes around Stabroek

Semi-paved parking lot where you can park your car without any worries.

It was Jonker Johannes Josephus Moretus (1727-1806) who acquired the estate that would later become Ravenhof on October 11, 1758. He also purchased many additional plots of land and farms. Such an estate certainly needed a park, and he had one built based on the plans of… Versailles. Jonker also commissioned the construction of an artificial sand dune, which offered a view of his estate. It was called the "Money Mountain." Under French rule, as the owner of the estate, he was the target of requisitions, raids, and plunder by the sans-culottes. According to tradition, Jonker hid part of his enormous fortune in this money mountain around 1800 to escape the robberies and requisitions during the French regime. This "money mountain" is still clearly recognizable, despite all the earlier and "modern" excavations. Source https://hetperkament.be/geldberg885698/

It was Jonker Johannes Josephus Moretus (1727-1806) who acquired the estate that would later become Ravenhof on October 11, 1758. He also purchased many additional plots of land and farms. Such an estate certainly needed a park, and he had one built based on the plans of… Versailles. Jonker also commissioned the construction of an artificial sand dune, which offered a view of his estate. It was called the "Money Mountain." Under French rule, as the owner of the estate, he was the target of requisitions, raids, and plunder by the sans-culottes. According to tradition, Jonker hid part of his enormous fortune in this money mountain around 1800 to escape the robberies and requisitions during the French regime. This "money mountain" is still clearly recognizable, despite all the earlier and "modern" excavations. Source: https://hetperkament.be/geldberg885698/

Update: since autumn 2024 a nice, large parking lot has been opened at the entrance of the forest. Immediately after driving out of Putte, turn left from the Oud Broek.

2 beautiful walking routes around the fort

Dogs are not allowed on the Loopgravenpad. This has to do with preserving the historical heritage. The trenches are sandy verges and dogs tend to dig in them. Then the trenches get damaged and we lose this important heritage. In the rest of the Mastenbos, dogs are of course welcome, if they are on a leash. www.natuurenbos.be

Variety guaranteed in this 178 hectare nature reserve in Kapellen! Various plant and animal species live peacefully side by side in the forest. Nature and Forest pays extra attention to heathland management in the Mastenbos and the rare nightjar is very happy about that. Here and there you can see traces of an old landscape park where majestic avenues take you back to times long past. The water features are an amusement park for bats, frogs, salamanders and toads. The Loopgravenpad is a real must! www.natuurenbos.be

In August 1914, the fort was at full strength when approximately 500 men were stationed there. They were under the command of Kommandant Jean Vogels. In the end, there was not much action because the fort was evacuated when Antwerp was occupied by the Germans. Kommandant Jean Vogels was appointed Honorary Major on 19 October 1923. In 1917, the fort became part of the German defence line. After the First World War, the fort was modernised. Overpressure chambers against gas attacks and an anti-tank ditch were installed. Again, it was all for nothing because the fort was evacuated on 17 May 1940. After World War II, the fort was used by the Belgian Mine Clearance Service to destroy explosives, mines and ammunition.