The best MTB trails around Sint-Genesius-Rode

The most famous monument on the battlefield of Waterloo. The hill can be seen from afar.

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).

Nice walk

Beautiful place with a lot of history.

View of the famous Lion of Waterloo and its accompanying mound, which will celebrate its bicentennial in 2026. They were constructed at the request of King William I Frederik, using clay soil from the surrounding area. William I, who lived from 1772 to 1843, was the first and only king of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. He commissioned many works and is also known as the merchant king and the canal king. His son, William II, was second-in-command of the British-Dutch-German forces. After his supposedly courageous actions at the Battle of Quatre-Bras, two days before Waterloo, he was also called "the hero of Waterloo." King William I commissioned the construction of the Lion of Waterloo in his honor. However, the British considered him a troublemaker, who took unnecessary risks and made many mistakes. Moreover, the one-sided and unjustified focus on the role of the impulsive William led to many Dutch heroes being ignored during the battle. You can read more about this at https://geschiedenismagazine.nl/was-de-prins-van-oranje-wel-de-held-van-waterloo-1815 The mound is 41 meters high, has a diameter of 169 meters, and slopes at a 30-degree angle. It is crowned by a lion, symbolizing the victory of the monarchies of the time. Sources: - https://www.regiedergebouwen.be/nl/projects/de-leeuw-van-waterloo - https://historiek.net/koning-willem-i-der-nederlanden/172414/

beautiful passage near the mill

The Moulin Brulé or Windmill of Woluwe-Saint-Lambert is a windmill in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert. It was originally built around 1767 in Esplechin, near Tournai. It almost disappeared due to competition from modern flour mills. The passion of one man, Dr. Duthoit, saved it. Bought by him in the 1930s and carefully restored, it enjoyed a second youth in Arc-Ainières, in Hainaut. In 1960, Dr. Duthoit's widow donated it to the municipality of Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, which transferred it to its territory. Some twenty years later, a fire required another major restoration and its reconstruction at its current location, Avenue Emmanuel Mounier, in the meadow of Hof ter Musschen, near Avenue Hippocrate and Boulevard de la Woluwe.

The symbol of the terrible Battle of Waterloo towers over the place where the Allies defeated Napoleon's Imperial troops. The famous lion still roars at France from its 40-metre-high mound.