The best gravel rides around Overijse

This tour goes for kilometers through the forest. In spring it is beautiful with the hyacinths and wood anemones. In summer nice and cool.

This road is called Hakenstakendreef today and connects the current Groenendaal station with the tunnel under Sint-Jansberglaan, which leads you to the former racecourse (and the restored Royal Box). The Hakenstakendreef is incidentally mentioned in a building application as the "chemin d'accès" (access road) that led to the now-nonexistent Groenendaal-Hippodroom station. See https://hoeilaart.weleer.be/renbaan-groenendaal/2904 At the beginning of the avenue, you will find information boards about the forest; at the end, by the tunnel, is part of the former racecourse car park where this station once stood, and where racehorses, as well as people, were brought by train. You are therefore walking in a once very popular area, as at its peak, around fifty horse races were organized in Groenendaal (before the First World War). But you won't see much more than the gravel road and trees (until you reach the remains of the car park and the tunnel).

Two picnic benches at a point where various paths meet, located between the (natural) play area on one side and the chapel and ponds on the other. At the chapel there are regular benches to sit on.

The Groenendaal racecourse was built in 1888-1889 on the initiative of Leopold II in the middle of the Sonian Forest, next to the road to Waterloo, and in 1892, as part of easy access, it received its own railway connection to Groenendaal station. To realize this racecourse, approximately 100 hectares of forest were cleared at the end of the 19th century. King Leopold II had his own box there, located between two metal grandstands for the public. After the First World War, this area was used for the dismantling of weapons and ammunition left behind in the Westhoek. German prisoners of war had to clear mines under the supervision of the Belgian army. During a fire and the subsequent explosions of ammunition on May 6, 1919, the hippodrome's grandstands and buildings were heavily damaged. After another explosion in November, the ammunition depot was completely dismantled in 1920. Two years later, the racecourse was restored and the grandstands were rebuilt. The royal box for Albert I was not rebuilt until 1924. Its appearance was completely different from the pre-war grandstand. When the current appearance came about is not entirely clear, although the current box is attributed to Albert I in the literature, see also monogram. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Royal Box and remains of bookmaker's room, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/302991

At De Doode Bemde, you can walk along the naturally meandering Dijle River. Near Leuven, nature conservation and flood protection go hand in hand. You might even spot beaver tracks. The hiking trails take you through more than 250 hectares of nature reserve. It's a mosaic of small fields, poplar plantations and swamp forests, meadows and hay meadows, roughs and reed beds, ponds and ditches. De Doode Bemde is part of the Zuid-Dijleland hiking network, offering over 300 km of hiking opportunities. Besides the Doode Bemde, this network includes many other areas managed by the Agency for Nature and Forests that can be combined with a walk in the Doode Bemde, such as the Egenhovenbos (between junctions 61 and 62 on the 16 km route), Heverleebos-Meerdaalwoud, the Grootbroek (between junctions 105 and 229) and Rodebos en Laanvallei (near junction 255).

The Voer river leads you from the center of Vossem to Tervuren's Warande Park, along the narrow Voerwegje. The majestic Tervuren Park takes you past the Africa Museum to the De Warandepoort visitor center for a short break. You re-enter the park where, at the Saint-Hubert Chapel, you'll discover the remains of the palace of the Dukes of Brabant. After leaving Tervuren Park, follow the cobblestones and brick wall of the Waalsebaan, a very old road that connected Namur to Mechelen. Soon you'll be walking through a vast landscape of fields, with views stretching for miles all the way back to Vossem. If you prefer, you can shorten the walk to 5.5 km. At hiking junction 43, leave the Voer and from there follow junction 44 and beyond.

Nice path, but note that cycling is not allowed here, and dogs must be leashed. It's more like a large park that transitions into forest.

one of my favorite trails in the area!