Rural Binkom

Binkom, part of Lubbeek, can be found between Aarschot and Tienen along the N223. Park near the Sint-Rochuskapel (V) at no. 60 along the Meenselstraat. It is a surprisingly large chapel with even a Stations of the Cross around it. It used to be a place of pilgrimage, now there are still a procession and a village fair the first Sunday after half harvest. Walk next to the chapel into the Sint-Rochusstraat and you will soon get the view of a wide open landscape with alternating fields and tight rows of low-stem fruit. Typical for this still rural region in Flemish Brabant. You do not bend into the Bloemstraat, but step resolutely straight into the fields. At the T-junction turn right into Brusselstraat. Follow this concrete road until you reach the church of Saint John the Baptist 1. It is built in neo-Gothic style, but leans against a late Romanesque tower. In the wall around the cemetery, a plaque tells you that JacobFerdinand Mellaerts is buried here, pastor and co-founder of the Boerenbond. Cross the Tiensesteenweg and enter the Kerkstraat. At a large new complex, turn left. At the old entrance gate you take a right on an earth road. On the right ponds, on the left again fields and fruit orchards. The earth road turns into cobblestones. Leave the Begijnenbosstraat and the zone with weekend houses on the right and take the Heurebeekstraat (later Begijnenbosweg) further on the right. At the T-junction, choose the road on the left. 75 m further you first turn to the right at the fork, a little further the asphalt goes downhill to the left. At a crossroads, choose the cobblestone road with street sign Heurbeek no. 33 on the right. You'll find yourself following a red and white GR trail. At a white iron gate you can go straight. If your dog is with you, it must be on a leash here. On a straight avenue you walk past the Castle of Brakum 2. The Ter roye Poorte farm actually stood here until the 18th century, but a new owner built the current country house there. It was restored in 1947, after numerous Leuven students went into hiding during WW II to escape compulsory employment by the German occupiers. The park was designed in 1916 by landscape architect Gallopin. At the end, turn right onto the main road and after 50 m turn left into Hensbergweg. Asphalt turns into a grass path between two meadows. You go straight uphill, into the small, mainly beech Calvary forest, up to the crucifix 3, flanked by two statues of saints. You notice that more hikers come here. The place is part of the Calvary trail and there is also a GR route. You go straight behind the bench and descend the hill, through a meadow and over a narrow path between a few gardens. You come to an asphalt road, the Grotendries. Turn right and a little further straight into the Sint-Gertrudendries, a semi-hollow road with high fields on your left. On the right, a path leads into the forest to De Leenberg Castle. Unfortunately, you are not allowed to go there. So you keep following the Saint Gertrude. You leave the Schoonzetselweg on the left and turn right. At the road junction turn right into the dead-end Verlorenhoekweg. You walk along the wall of a large country house. A little further, behind the tennis court, take a left onto the earth road. Past the chain that stops cars, cross the driveway of the estate and walk straight ahead. At the end turn right, not onto the main road, but at house number 75 onto the parallel path. First you walk a few hundred meters on grass, then asphalt again. That street is called Wingestraat. Stay tuned. At the intersection with the Binkomstraat you will find the IJsmanneke of Binkom 4, an ice cream parlour where you can also have a drink. You continue straight through the Wingestraat and arrive at the Keiberg. Cross the Tiensesteenweg carefully on the left into the Molenberg. It ends in the Meenselstraat, follow them straight on to your starting point.