Through the beautiful surroundings towards Olmen

You can also walk a number of nostalgic routes through the city that tell you more about the history of Leopoldsburg. Just outside Leopoldsburg you drive through the Gerheserbossen. The history of this forest goes back about 10,000 years. You mainly see sandy soils and dunes covered with pine forests. If you look closely, you will also discover old remains of heath and fen. These valuable places, which are connected by light-filled avenues, ensure that rare animals such as the wood cricket and nightjar feel at home here.

Near the town of Olmen you pass through the catchment area of the river De Grote Nete. Here you drive through an area where there are almost no buildings, so you are surprised by the silence. Until the 1980s, small-scale agriculture was still practiced with great difficulty in this swampy area. Because the yields were no longer profitable, the farmers left. Nature was allowed to take its course, so that a swampy area was created again with scattered forests and meadows. The area is rich in meadow birds.

The route ends again in the Municipality of Leopoldsburg. You will find cozy cafes and restaurants here to enjoy your route. Try one of the city specialties, such as the Kampse Soldatenkoek. The cake is baked according to a secret recipe and is available at three Kampse bakeries: Bakkerij Verpoorten, Bakker Kris and Jacques. The Kampse Borrel also has a military history. This herbal gin was sold to soldiers until 1913, after which this tradition was lost. Coincidentally, the original recipe was found in 1984, so the drink is available again. From Leopoldsburg you can also drive route 181838.