Easy hikes and walks in Schoonbroek

The Wittegoudbrug is a steel girder bridge for pedestrians and cyclists over the Dijle river on the border of the municipalities of Haacht and Keerbergen in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The cycle and footbridge was opened in 2023. The bridge was built and opened at the same time as the Regenboogbrug.

This is a bridge with a beautiful view of the landscape and can be used on a tour along the Dijle.

Very beautiful, but often wet and muddy

When it comes to nature, most people probably know Haacht from the Haachts Broek. The Schorisgat - with the Schorisgatbeek - is also well worth the effort. Here you have the stream and a cycle path between Haacht and Wespelaar that also runs over the Leibeek, which is important for the region. Walkers can take a nice side path that leads to the bridge over the Leibeek, where it rejoins the cycle path. You then walk along the Leibeek and through the grasslands, and that's quite worthwhile. Read along: "The Schorisgat is located directly south of Haacht. The grasslands are only accessible on foot, there are no officially marked walking paths. The Schorisgat is now passable by bicycle." And: "Schorisgat consists of open grasslands, some of which are mown. Due to the Leibeek, it is a marshy area in places. Ideal for snipe. In summer you will see a flock of storks foraging here. Thanks to the open fields, this is also an ideal spot for birds of prey, such as buzzards and kestrels." More for bird lovers at https://www.birdingplaces.eu/nl/birdingplaces/belgium/schorisgat-haacht And then there is Natuurpunt with this: In the Schorisgat you walk over the oldest road in Haacht, built by the Celts. The foundation of this "log road" consisted of crossbeams (the logs) and branches and allowed road construction through wet areas. This section of log road was part of the Brussels-Lier connection. Based on the toponymy, it can be said that the Schorisgat has undergone few changes throughout history. The still damp meadows in the 16th century are indicated on the toponymic map as "euzel", meaning wet hay meadow. We also find places on this map called "rot" (marshy area), indicating the quality of the grounds for agriculture. The "donken" (Stampendonkstraat) point to slightly elevated places. The wide depression at Schapendonck is a remnant of a retting pit for flax, formerly an important crop in Haacht. Originally, the weekly market of Haacht was a flax market! Source: https://www.natuurpunt.be/afdelingen/natuurpunt-haacht-0/schorisgat Let's walk.

Here is a small parking area with, next to it, this wooden structure where you can picnic, take shelter, start/end your walk and, perhaps most importantly, learn a lot about the Dijle as a defense location throughout the ages and the nearby bridge.

The Oude Hansbrug has been a protected monument since 1988. It is a cast-iron, late 19th-century bridge over the Dijle between Keerbergen and Haacht. There has been a lot of history surrounding the Oude Hansbrug. It can already be found in the 13th century, albeit as a wooden bridge. In the 19th century, it was replaced by a cast-iron riveted bridge with a fixed section on the Keerbergen side and a drawbridge section on the Haacht side. During the First and Second World Wars, it was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. In 1958, a new concrete bridge was built 200 meters upstream, and the Oude Hansbrug was retired. It could no longer handle the traffic flow. Deterioration began, and it soon had to be closed, even to pedestrians and cyclists, because it was no longer safe. It simply rusted away. Together with the historical societies of Haacht and Keerbergen and both municipal administrations, a battle against time began. It soon became clear that this battle was being lost, and restoration was out of the question because there was simply nothing left to restore. Rebuilding the bridge by perfectly replicating it was the only alternative to save this now-classified monument. While pillars and bridgeheads were being restored, the Flemish Region began replicating the old bridge: a perfect copy in the same materials as the original bridge. In the night of June 14 to 15, 2005, this bridge was brought to the site in pieces by three semi-trailers, and the next day it was assembled by a large crane. On August 27, 2005, the bridge was officially reopened. The Oude Hansbrug has been a protected monument since March 16, 1998. Source: https://www.keerbergen.be/product/292/oude-hansbrug

Iron balance bridge over the Dijle, built to replace a worn-out swing bridge from 1822 (3 wooden spans on 2 stone pillars). A bridge was already located at this site in 1234 (deed drawn up by Knight Walter van Haacht). Earliest depiction of 'a' Hansbrug with toll house of the de Croy Family (figurative pre-cadastral plans by Adriaan van Montigny). Sometimes the bridge had to be replaced by a ferry or pontoon (including around 1820). The current bridge was damaged by the Belgian Army in 1914 and then repaired. Tolls were levied until after 1886. On December 23, 1890, the Municipalities of Keerbergen (Province of Antwerp) and Haacht (Province of Brabant) were granted permission to build a new bridge by the Ministry of Agriculture, Industry and Public Works, Bridges and Roads Department. After some changes to the original plans, this bridge was completed and delivered in 1893 (February 22). The total cost was 46,550 BEF paid by the Belgian State, the Province of Brabant, and the two municipalities involved. The iron parts were built by the Van Aerschot company from Herentals, also widely known as a caster of iron mill axle heads and as a constructor of riveted iron mill rods. Inventory Immovable Heritage: Hansbrug, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/200147

Fluvius has carried out work that replaced this painted electrical panel with a new, plain green panel. Such a shame! 😔