With Willem Elsschot through the princely de Merode

The walk starts from the Herselt hamlet of Blauberg through the peaceful countryside in the Kempen. From the first junction you are already in the middle of nature. Willem Elsschot found inspiration in Blauberg and even took his name from the nearby Helschot nature reserve. Between the ages of five and twenty-two, the writer spent every summer vacation with his family in Blauberg. As an adult he kept coming to this beautiful area to refuel. Always with a bowler hat on his head and his inseparable baton in his hand.

Giant pine trees

The Elsschot walk starts at De Verlosing tavern on Kerkplein, named after Elsschot's third book. Outside the built-up area of Blauberg, a forest area with Scots pines quickly follows, which can grow up to 35 meters high. Nowadays, nature is allowed to take its course again and the forest is rewilding. Then you pass farms with fields and meadows.

A royal walk

The adjacent Provincial Groendomein Hertberg, 236 hectares in size, is bathed in a princely atmosphere. It is criss-crossed by stately avenues and attractive hiking trails. Until 2004, Hertberg was part of the extensive possessions of Prince de Merode. Geographically, it lies on the transition from the barren and sandy Kempen to the hilly and loamy Hageland. There are some'mountains\\\', iron sandstone hills from a distant past when the Diestian Sea sloshed in these parts.

Copyright photos: Mie De Backer