Zellaer Castle – Dreef with Loose Gravel loop from Haacht

Bike touring routes & trails

Zellaer Castle – Dreef with Loose Gravel loop from Haacht

Hard

4.3

(19)

186

riders

Zellaer Castle – Dreef with Loose Gravel loop from Haacht

02:43

40.5km

60m

Cycling

Hard bike ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 2, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

4.93 km

Bench with a view of the river

Highlight • Viewpoint

A resting point to look forward to. Enjoy your break.

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6.73 km

Horse Museum and Tavern Terrace

Highlight • Restaurant

Entrance along the Dyledijk, simple food, drinks, coffee in a horse museum.

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18.2 km

Heerlijkheid van Berentrode

Castle

18.9 km

Krankhoevebos

Forest

22.3 km

Zellaer Castle

Highlight • Castle

The history of Kasteeldomein Zellaer probably goes back to at least the 13th century. At that time, there was a moated castle on the spot where the current castle now stands. The first resident was in all probability Arnold van Zellaer, a wealthy canon of Sint-Rombouts. The domain has since always been a sought-after place of residence on the outskirts of Mechelen. Several high clergymen have lived there, several mayors of Mechelen, a mayor of Bonheiden, wealthy businessmen, several counts and a baron. Due to this succession of different residents, a lot of renovation and new construction work has also taken place on the domain. There have also been several castles on the same spot within the domain. The current castle is a neo-Gothic moated castle that was built around 1885. The outer facade shows a robust appearance with a drawbridge, a Donjon, battlements and loopholes. The facade stone is Gobertange sandstone that comes from the demolition of the city walls of Vilvoorde. The interior of the castle shows many well-preserved elements that were previously executed in Renaissance style, with beautiful carvings and paintings. The structural elements such as the stairs and ceilings were often finished in a combination of cast steel and wood, characteristic of the period in which the castle was built (industrial revolution).
The 18.5 hectare castle park still contains many historical elements such as a moat structure, pond and avenues that converge centrally in a star. Many of these structures date back to at least the 18th century, as they are already visible on the Ferraris maps (1771-1778)

In 2017, the municipality of Bonheiden partially purchased the castle domain. The non-profit organization Foyer De Charité Bonheiden, a lay community of the Catholic Church and the then owner of the domain, also remained joint owner of the domain. Kempens Landschap has taken the entire castle domain on a long lease for a period of 54 years. At the beginning of 2018, Kempens Landschap and the municipality of Bonheiden started drawing up an integrated nature and heritage management plan for the entire Zellaer castle domain.

More information at kempenslandschap.be/nl/kasteel-zellaer

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29.3 km

Gravel Path Along the Vrouwvliet

Highlight • Trail

Dust on the gravel...

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32.2 km

Pikhakendonk Nature Reserve

Highlight • Natural

On the banks of the Dijle you have a beautiful view of the Pikhakendonk nature reserve.
The Pikhakendonk nature reserve is located in a river landscape where hundreds of plants and animals find a safe habitat. The first part of the name refers to the thorny hedges or pikhagen. A 'donk' is a sandy elevation in the landscape, a dune that was created during the last ice age.

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37.3 km