The best running trails in S Herenbos, Heihuizen En Zalfen

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).

Very beautiful castle almost in the center of Oostmalle and yet surrounded by tranquility

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 is Renesse Castle (also known as Oostmalle Castle), located in the Belgian municipality of Malle. The castle sits on a 127-hectare estate and has been managed since 1985 by a non-profit organization that uses it as a museum and for cultural activities. The current castle was largely rebuilt in the Flemish Neo-Renaissance style after a thorough renovation in 1920 by Count Maximiliaan de Renesse. The accompanying park forest features several remarkable non-native trees, including sequoias. The castle and its park have played an important role in local history, including their reconstruction after a devastating tornado in 1967.

Beautiful and well-maintained chapel. With interesting information about the chapel and the airfield.

Very beautiful forest, well-maintained trails, nice walk!

There are also often events held here.

A bee hotel is a specially constructed shelter for bees, especially solitary bees, who are looking for a suitable place to lay their eggs and protect their larvae. Each bee species has a different nesting system: Solitary bees: Lay eggs in individual tunnels (e.g. in wood or bamboo). Honey bees: Live in large colonies in tree hollows or special bee hotels. Why a bee hotel? Biodiversity: Bees are important pollinators and bee hotels help them find a safe place. Reproduction: Bee hotels provide a sheltered place for bees to reproduce. Protection: Protect the bees and their larvae from adverse weather conditions and enemies. Education: A fun way to teach children and adults about nature.