The best MTB trails around Merksplas

History The chapel was erected in 1626. At that time, the region was plagued by a pest epidemic. Legend has it that about 60 inhabitants of Oostmalle fled the village with the disease to the heath at Zalfen. Adriaan Mattheeusen, an inhabitant of Zalfen, who lost some of his children to the epidemic, was obliged to bury them in the heath and erected a chapel in their memory. Soon, the chapel served for funeral services, and the dead were buried in the adjacent cemetery. The chapel soon became an attraction for pilgrims. For this reason, it was enlarged in 1726 to its current appearance (see upper part in the side gable dated by means of sintered stone). The chapel is depicted on Ferraris' cabinet map (1770-1778) on a triangular plot of heath. A loop of tall trees surrounds the chapel. On Vandermaelen's map (1846-1854), the chapel is located south of the Salphen road, amidst a triangular forest plot. Description The Sint-Antonius chapel of Salphen is located south of the Salphen road, an old avenue of predominantly tall English oaks (Quercus robur), and is surrounded by tall trees (mainly Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris). It is an oriented brick chapel with a three-sided closed west facade and a lower rectangular choir under slate gable roofs (ridge parallel to the street) with a bell tower. On the east side, there are two tuit-gables on shoulder pieces with crenellations. On the north side, there are rectangular windows and a basket-arch door and a basket-arch door. The plastered and painted interior has a wooden frame with a tie beam. The furniture includes an altar from the 19th century and a painted wooden statue of Saint Anthony Abbot (late 15th or early 16th century).

The St. Anthony's Chapel is a chapel in the hamlet of Zalfen, located near Salphen, which is part of the Antwerp municipality of Malle. Nearby Oostmalle was hit by a plague epidemic around 1625. Around 60 sick people reportedly fled to the heath. A certain Adriaan Mattheeusen, who lost three children to the disease, had to bury them on the heath and built a chapel for this purpose. This chapel was soon also used for funeral services, and the deceased were buried in a nearby cemetery. The chapel attracted pilgrims and was therefore expanded in 1726. https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sint-Antoniuskapel_(Zalfen)

This single track has been prohibited for cyclists since July 2025 unfortunately 🚳

The Saint Anthony Chapel of Salphen is located south of the Salphen road, an old avenue of predominantly ascending summer oaks (Quercus robur) and is surrounded by ascending trees (mainly Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris). It is an oriented brick chapel with a three-sided closed west facade and a lower rectangular choir under slate saddle roofs (ridge parallel to the street) with roof turret. On the east side there are two stepped gables on shoulder pieces with braiding. On the north side there are rectangular windows and a basket-handle arch door and a basket-handle arch door. The plastered and painted interior has a wooden truss with tie beam. The furniture includes an altar from the 19th century and a painted wooden statue of Saint Anthony Abbot (end of the 15th or beginning of the 16th century). The text is provided by: Agency for Immovable Heritage (AOE)

This stone indicates the border between the municipalities of Hoogstraten, Baarle-Hertog and Merksplas.

Here lie the roots of Merksplas. Long before the Irish monks came to our country to convert the Old Belgians, there was a Sacred Forest in this region of Merksplas, called the “Looi”. The elevation between the current Melkerijloop and the Mark also formed a natural fortress for the Romans. The name “Burcht” – Motteburcht – dates from that time. In the early Middle Ages (5th to 10th century), the motte castle was still in use by the Lords of Merksplas.

In the early Middle Ages (5th to 10th century), the motte castle was still in use by the Lords of Merksplas. A motte castle is an earthen mound with a wooden watchtower at the top to spot the enemy (the Normans) as early as possible. The Vikings were then lured into a swamp, the diffuse outflow delta of the Goorloop in the Mark. Pastor-father Van Asten was a man who knew how to tackle things. In 1680 he had major waterworks carried out. In addition to the (now old) fishpond, he also had a pike ditch dug. The level of these water features was regulated with a lock and a tree gutter. This technique is still used today. The rainwater from the public road flows into the ring ditch and the old pond. Via an overflow, the pike ditch is first supplied and then the new fishpond, which in turn discharges the excess water into the Goorloop. Triggered? Want to know more? Click through to https://www.marcblas.be/de-geschiedenis-van-carons-hofke-verteld/5-motteburcht-en-waterwerken

Nice beautiful path