Jan Huet Pad - a painting route through the Kempen

This walk takes you through the beautiful nature in the border region of the provinces of Antwerp and North Brabant. Between Hoogstraten and Baarle-Nassau you walk through an unspoilt landscape of meadows, forests, heaths and old dikes.

You walk a large part of the route on the Jan Huet path. This route is a tribute to the artist Jan Huet who was born in this region (in Wortel). He loved the natural beauty of Kempen. While walking you will experience for yourself how beautiful the Kempen landscape is that inspired Huet so much.

You cross Het Merkske twice, a meandering stream that forms the whimsical border between the Netherlands and Belgium in various parts. The path can get damp, especially in the stream valley. So make sure you have good walking shoes, so that you can optimally enjoy the special plants and flowers that you find around you. Incidentally, this used to be an impassable, wild region - and therefore a perfect hiding place for robbers and other scum.

In 1821 this area still had 14 fens. Now there is only one left: the Bootjesven, a natural fen where peat was extracted. You can still see some rare herbs growing there. At the Torendreef you are surrounded by a wall of American oaks. Halfway to the right is the lonely tramp cemetery from 1870. A little later you see where this driveway owes its name: the tower of the Sint-Catharinakerk in Hoogstraten looms on the horizon. At 104.7 metres, this is the third highest church tower in Belgium.