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De Faluintjes

— Hopfields, woodlands and wide meadows mark the countryside around the Abdij Affligem.”

About twenty kilometres west of Brussels, the Faluintjes consist of woodland and wide meadows scored through by narrow, swollen streams. The district is home to the famous Abdij Affligem, whose often tumultuous history began in 1062.

The word ‘faluintjes’ may derive from the French for fossil deposits, or more probably from the Middle Dutch for faggots.

• Walking route: Moorsel – Meldert – Kravaalbos – Meldert – Moorsel (loop) detailed commentary
• Distance: 14km
• Original route by Gert Sonck at Originele wandelingen in België

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De Faluintjes

Only 20km west of Brussels a quiet rural district minds its own business: rearing donkeys and horses while growing crops and hops.

Detailed commentary

Larger map of this route

1. From the Opwijksesteenweg, take the Karel van Croydreef. At the gate of the castle grounds go left then next right, still alongside them. Beyond the gate, straight onto a road (Waterkasteel) until the main road. Left onto it, then first right (Tryenbosweg).
2. After a stream, follow the path between fences. At house number 5, where the paved road ends, go right then immediate left onto a narrow path between fences. Cross a stream and follow it left along the edge of a field, passing a chapel. Straight along by the water and the path widens, crossing over two junctions.
3. At the road, go left but just after the wooden chalet, turn right onto a footpath. Pass another chapel then left between the greenhouses at house number 37. Turn right at the end of the growing beds onto a wide grass path. At the road (Zuremeersweg) go left. Pass chalets on the left and after a half mile, sharp right at a junction onto another road.
4. Pass a football field (Lochteveldweg) and turn right at the junction. At the end, cross the road and follow the narrow path opposite. At the end, cross the street and onto Bisschopweg.
5. Beyond the houses and onto a grass path, sharp bend to the right, then sharp left at a lone farmhouse. Pass trees to the right and go right at the next track junction. Climb up steadily to the t-junction with a lane (Meyersberg) and go right.
6. When the lane bends sharply right, go left onto a path. At the woods go right: the way straight ahead is forbidden anyway. Reaching a forest road, go left then after another 250 yards, turn sharp right onto a trail announced by a sign with a scholarly owl and a wooden gate. The trail runs alongside the forest. At the split, turn left along the clearing. Go straight on with a meadow on your right. When you reach the corner of this meadow, turn right onto GR128 (red/white stripe) and head into the forest.
7. At a t-junction at the very end of the path, turn right onto the path with the crossed-out GR marker. It rises a little, then descends and curves to the left on meeting a stream. At the end of the woodland with another gate, go right and follow this path as far as the road (Huizekensstraat) onto which turn left.
8. Beyond the houses, the road becomes a (potentially muddy) track. At the junction at the edge of Meldert, turn right. Go straight over the village square and downhill on the Kempinneweg. Turn briefly to the right at the end, then left onto a track that runs initially beside houses and into the fields.
9. On reaching a junction with a wider lane but still with fields ahead turn right, eventually running beside a thin treeline behind which there’s a business. At the next junction go left on a busy road (Nedermolenstraat) and soon after right onto another track, announced by an EU funding sign on which you’ll see the word hopveld. At the end of this hop field turn left and then right almost immediately onto a straight track. Go right at the next junction (Affligemdreef). After a mile you reach the Molenbeek stream. Turn left here and follow it until finally you come back to the Waterkasteel on your right.