Easy hikes and walks in Jongenbos

The Jongenbos is an estate complex that originally belonged to the Jongenbos Castle in Vliermaalroot. It currently consists of 20 ha of castle park, 100 ha of forest, and 180 ha of arable land and pasture. From 1995 onwards, 73 ha of the forest has been designated as a forest reserve. The area is protected at a European level as part of the Natura 2000 area 'Forests and calcareous grasslands of Haspengouw' (BE2200038). @https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jongenbos

Het Jongenbos is an estate complex that originally belonged to the Jongenbos Castle in Vliermaalroot. It currently consists of 20 ha of castle park, 100 ha of forest and 180 ha of arable land and pasture. From 1995 onwards, 73 ha of the forest has been designated as a forest reserve. The area is protected by Europe as part of the Natura 2000 area 'Forests and calcareous grasslands of Haspengouw' (BE2200038). @https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jongenbos

The Jongenbos forest lies northeast of the center of Vliermaalroot, in the northern part of Humid Haspengouw. The terrain is almost flat. This historically stable forest served as a park and hunting preserve for the eponymous Loon fiefdom. The builder of the current castle is said to have planted seventy thousand trees to compensate for the felling of the deciduous forest, which was necessary for the castle's construction (including for firewood in the brickworks' kilns). The pond behind the castle is the result of clay extraction for bricks. The landscape around the forest has an agricultural character.

Since 2000, the bronze statue of the "Vlegeldroser" (Flagger Thresher) has stood at the chapel on Helstraat. This bronze statue was created by artist Rik Verhelst. It was unveiled in 2000 on the occasion of the local group's national championship title. This statue symbolizes the farmer, who at the time had to earn a living by sowing, reaping, and harvesting his crops. Since the statue was stolen and destroyed by vandals in late 2013, the pedestal stood empty, much to the annoyance of the neighborhood friends of 't Crijt. But since the end of 2015, a new flail thresher has taken pride of place on the pedestal by the chapel, facing the meadow where his comrades come every year to thresh the grain during the Crijt Festival. (Diepenbeek.nu)

This neighborhood chapel, dedicated to Our Lady of Banneeux, was built to replace an old chapel that had to be demolished for the road reconstruction around 1960. When the electricity substation was built, local residents requested that a new chapel be built adjacent to it, and their wish was granted by the municipal council. A few years ago, a beautiful, large butterfly was placed on the outer wall in memory of a deceased son. Today, the butterfly is there in memory of all the deceased of the Crijt region. ((Diepenbeek Historical Society)

Quietly situated seating area on the shady edge of the Jongenbos

Nice narrow forest path through the corner of Jongenbos. At this moment (March) the path was 'tender' but certainly doable but I can imagine lesser moments when it becomes a struggle here.

A fenced area where the dogs can run freely...