RoutesHiking trails & RoutesBelgiumFlandersWest FlandersTieltWielsbeke
De Zavelput Nature Reserve – The Vlas Bridge loop from Ooigem
RoutesHiking trails & RoutesBelgiumFlandersWest FlandersTieltWielsbeke
De Zavelput Nature Reserve – The Vlas Bridge loop from Ooigem
Moderate
4.6
(224)
935
hikers
De Zavelput Nature Reserve – The Vlas Bridge loop from Ooigem
03:10
12.5km
30m
Hiking
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.
Last updated: June 18, 2026
Waypoints
A
Start point
Bus stop
Get Directions
1
3.24 km
De Zavelput Nature Reserve
Highlight • Natural
The Zavelput is an old sand quarry that is now managed as a nature reserve. After the exploitation, the pit filled with water and a rich ecosystem was created. The site is 5.2 hectares in size, the pond itself about two hectares. You can go for a walk and observe birds from the observation hut. Nearby you will find the Goed te Beaulieu, a historic farm that dates back to the Frankish period. Behind the farm runs the Leie - it is very nice to walk along the banks.
In 2024, the area was expanded on the north side: a forest was planted on a strip along the Leie, between the actual zavelput and the Vlasbrug.
Source: toerisme-leiestreek.be
In 2024, the area was expanded on the north side: a forest was planted on a strip along the Leie, between the actual zavelput and the Vlasbrug.
Source: toerisme-leiestreek.be
Translated by Google •
Tip by
2
4.12 km
The Vlas Bridge
Highlight • Bridge
The steel S-shaped bridge not only connects the towpaths on both sides of the river, but also the nature reserves on the Leie. The name of the bridge refers to the former flax industry in the region. Since the 19th century it has brought a lot of prosperity.
Translated by Google •
Tip by
3
7.68 km
Bavikhove War Memorial and Freedom Tree
Highlight • Monument
Memorial stone for the military and civilian victims and civilian workers of the First World War. The monument was erected in 2019.
The names of the victims of the Second World War were later added to the same monument.
"We fell for you, for the Fatherland / There lie their corpses like seeds in the sand / Hope for the harvest, O Flandersland," it reads, along with a variation on the familiar "AVV-VVK"; here "AVV-VVC"; "Flanders for Christ" instead of "Christ."
Next to the monument is an information board about the Tree of Liberty, the old one from 1919 and the new one from 2019.
The names of the victims of the Second World War were later added to the same monument.
"We fell for you, for the Fatherland / There lie their corpses like seeds in the sand / Hope for the harvest, O Flandersland," it reads, along with a variation on the familiar "AVV-VVK"; here "AVV-VVC"; "Flanders for Christ" instead of "Christ."
Next to the monument is an information board about the Tree of Liberty, the old one from 1919 and the new one from 2019.
Translated by Google •
Tip by
4
7.73 km
Sint-Amandus Church
Highlight • Religious Site
Church dedicated to Saint Amandus who miraculously saved his brother from drowning. The altarpiece on the high altar still bears witness to this.
Originally it was a Romanesque church where pilgrimages were held in the 17th and 18th centuries. The church lived mainly on the income of a society of saints. The saint who was (and still is) mainly venerated here was Saint Maurus, the patron saint of the sick.
During the novena in July, masses are held in honor of Saint Maurus. At the end of the novena, on the first Sunday of July, a procession is held in honor of Saint Maurus. Bavikhove Kermis traditionally falls around this time.
Source: Wikipedia
Originally it was a Romanesque church where pilgrimages were held in the 17th and 18th centuries. The church lived mainly on the income of a society of saints. The saint who was (and still is) mainly venerated here was Saint Maurus, the patron saint of the sick.
During the novena in July, masses are held in honor of Saint Maurus. At the end of the novena, on the first Sunday of July, a procession is held in honor of Saint Maurus. Bavikhove Kermis traditionally falls around this time.
Source: Wikipedia
Translated by Google •
Tip by
5
8.45 km
Vanderheeren Flax Retting Factory
Highlight • Monument
Flax barn / roterij long the Oude Leiearm - no longer to be visited but a beautiful reminder of this rich flax past here in the region.
Translated by Google •
Tip by
6
9.34 km
Old Flax Factory Ooigem
Highlight • Historical Site
Flax factory located along the old arm of the Leie. In 1936, an artificial retting facility was built at the request of Camiel Declercq, a farmer from Ooigem. A year later, under the same owner, it was expanded with a hangar and scutching facility, which were rebuilt after a bombing raid during World War II.
Concrete retting facility consisting of six and two retting rooms (multi-sided type).
Scutching facility with a concrete frame and red brick construction, with a hangar to the south.
Dust shed on the roof with chimneys.
Preserved brick factory chimney.
Pump shed along the Leie for drawing water.
...and if all this technical information doesn't interest you: just enjoy the charm of decay, reflected, among other things, in the beautifully peeling blue and white gate ;-)
Source: inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/erfgoedobjecten/89562
Concrete retting facility consisting of six and two retting rooms (multi-sided type).
Scutching facility with a concrete frame and red brick construction, with a hangar to the south.
Dust shed on the roof with chimneys.
Preserved brick factory chimney.
Pump shed along the Leie for drawing water.
...and if all this technical information doesn't interest you: just enjoy the charm of decay, reflected, among other things, in the beautifully peeling blue and white gate ;-)
Source: inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/erfgoedobjecten/89562
Translated by Google •
Tip by
7
10.8 km
Ooigembos
Highlight • Forest
The development plan “Bavikhove-Ooigembos” is part of the Leie river restoration component. The restoration of a “river landscape” is emphasized with a strengthening of river dynamics, ecological potential and spatial quality. This section concerns not only the watercourse itself, but the entire river system, including parts of the alluvial plain. The greatest potential for the development of wet nature is located in this alluvial plain. The target is the development of 500 hectares of water-related terrestrial nature. To this end, the Flemish Government established 10 areas along the Leie, including “Bavikhove-Ooigembos”.
More information at vlaanderen.be/publicaties/informatieplan-bavikhove-ooigembos-herstel-natte-natuur
More information at vlaanderen.be/publicaties/informatieplan-bavikhove-ooigembos-herstel-natte-natuur
Translated by Google •
Tip by
8
12.0 km
Ooigem Castle
Highlight • Castle
You can see the side and back of Ooigem Castle from the Oude Leie; the front from the entrance gate on Desselgemsestraat.
On an information board on site you will find this explanation:
A castle was possibly built here in the 9th century to protect Harelbeke. The oldest known lord was mentioned in 1080 as Lambertus de Odenghem. Around 1260, the castle came into the possession of the lords of Luxembourg. They probably had a stone castle built in the 13th century.
At the end of the 14th century, a fire is said to have raged and in the course of the 15th century the castle fell into disrepair.
In 1510, the lordship was sold to the De Gros family, who made it habitable again. In 1576, however, the castle was plundered by iconoclasts and fell into disrepair again. During the 17th century, the castle was rebuilt on the old foundations, probably by order of Charles de Gros, the first regular resident.
In 1693, the castle came into the hands of the De Lens family as an inheritance. A chapel and a Louis XV-style staircase were added, the salons were redecorated, new stables and coach houses appeared in the farmyard.
The park was laid out. Petrus Verhaeghe, mayor of Ooigem, lived in the castle after the French Revolution and in 1889 Bernard Verhaeghe, who was mayor of Ooigem at the time, bought the castle.
His son Alfons Verhaeghe was visited several times by Oscar Wilde. 'Op het kasteel', the story by Stijn Streuvels from 1904, is also set in this castle.
In 1937, a number of farm buildings in the farmyard were demolished, but the dovecote remained. The garden was redesigned, on a smaller scale than before. According to literature, the domain once housed prisons, storage areas for payments in kind, courtrooms and council chambers.
On an information board on site you will find this explanation:
A castle was possibly built here in the 9th century to protect Harelbeke. The oldest known lord was mentioned in 1080 as Lambertus de Odenghem. Around 1260, the castle came into the possession of the lords of Luxembourg. They probably had a stone castle built in the 13th century.
At the end of the 14th century, a fire is said to have raged and in the course of the 15th century the castle fell into disrepair.
In 1510, the lordship was sold to the De Gros family, who made it habitable again. In 1576, however, the castle was plundered by iconoclasts and fell into disrepair again. During the 17th century, the castle was rebuilt on the old foundations, probably by order of Charles de Gros, the first regular resident.
In 1693, the castle came into the hands of the De Lens family as an inheritance. A chapel and a Louis XV-style staircase were added, the salons were redecorated, new stables and coach houses appeared in the farmyard.
The park was laid out. Petrus Verhaeghe, mayor of Ooigem, lived in the castle after the French Revolution and in 1889 Bernard Verhaeghe, who was mayor of Ooigem at the time, bought the castle.
His son Alfons Verhaeghe was visited several times by Oscar Wilde. 'Op het kasteel', the story by Stijn Streuvels from 1904, is also set in this castle.
In 1937, a number of farm buildings in the farmyard were demolished, but the dovecote remained. The garden was redesigned, on a smaller scale than before. According to literature, the domain once housed prisons, storage areas for payments in kind, courtrooms and council chambers.
Translated by Google •
Tip by
B
12.5 km
End point
Bus stop
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
4.46 km
3.08 km
2.33 km
2.14 km
480 m
Surfaces
3.84 km
2.76 km
2.52 km
1.29 km
1.19 km
895 m
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Elevation
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Weather
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Thursday 16 July
25°C
16°C
0 %
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Max wind speed: 16.0 km/h
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