Roller coaster and maze on the Monts de Flandre

Small car park at the corner of Kalissesstraat and Dikkebusstraat (N 375), or else at the side of Dikkebusstraat near the petrol station.

(S/E) Follow Kalissestraat for about 300 m. Take the path on the right (barrier) to enter the woods. Cross through (old stairs and floors) and, at the exit, join a small road. Follow it on the left until you reach the crossroads (post 49). Go up the stairs opposite and continue straight on towards post 48, which you will reach very quickly.

(1) Turn right without crossing the wire fence. Further on, find an opening that leads to a path on the left. Pass a hut (on the left) and find a path that turns sharply to the right (just before a pylon).

(2) Take this path which climbs up the Scherpenberg. At the top, after the barrier, turn right to reach a T-junction. Turn left towards marker 52 and descend to a small road. Follow it to the left to reach a main road. Cross it and find marker 52 slightly to the left.
Turn right onto the small road and walk 100 metres towards marker 70, which is just after the vineyard. At marker 70, turn left towards marker 71 for a long zigzag walk through the fields. You will reach a main road.

(3) Follow it to the right for a few metres and turn left towards marker 13. You will immediately find a path leading off to the right. Take this path towards marker 12 (benches and cairn). Follow the path (wooden walkway, steps) to cross the Sulferberg and reach a small road.

(4) Take the path on the left towards marker 28. After about a hundred metres, you will find a path branching off to the right (barrier). Follow this path and, via a steep descent, you will reach a well-restored footbridge. Cross it and continue along the path until you reach the main road. Follow it for about a hundred metres on the left to find a path branching off to the right (marker 27).

(5) Take the hairpin bend on the right and, on a gentle slope, you will reach a small road (house). Turn left and you will immediately find marker 27. Then turn right and climb up to marker 31.

(6) From there, continue climbing to the right until you reach marker 32 at Kosmos (on the right: under construction in August 2025). Cross the car park, keeping to the left, and you will reach marker 34.

(7) Take the path on the right and, after about 100 metres, take the path on the right that enters the woods. At the first crossroads, continue straight ahead to reach a wider path, opposite a staircase. Go down this staircase (difficult!), then cross an old wooden floor and continue straight ahead to marker 33.

(8) Turn right and you will see a gate on the left. Go through it to enter the playground. Follow the path, pass by an "amphitheatre" (on the right) and, continuing in the same direction, you will reach marker 90 at the edge of the woods.

(9) There are now two options:
Follow the wide path on the left at the edge of the field and go straight ahead to (10).
Or
More fun and choice of route: just before marker 90, take the hairpin path on the left through the undergrowth. Follow it (it is clearly marked) without ever taking the paths on the right. When it turns sharply to the left, leave it to join the path opposite by crossing the hedge (the passage is quite clear, I am not the only one to use it). Follow this path to the right until you reach a T-junction.

(10) Turn left. The path turns right and arrives near a road. Just before it, turn left onto a path in the undergrowth. At the barrier, turn left and reach a crossroads at marker 24.

(11) Go between the two barriers to take the narrow path opposite and reach a T-junction. Turn left (GR®). After about 500 metres, at the fork, turn right and reach a T-junction at marker 65.

(12) Turn right towards marker 64. The path passes near a café and reaches a T-junction at marker 64.

(13) Turn right towards marker 22. Just before a wide path, turn right at the edge of the field. You will reach a path and marker 22. Continue straight ahead along the vineyards. A little further on, leave the vineyard and follow the path to a crossroads at marker 10.

(14) Turn left towards marker 19. At the crossroads at marker 19, take the path on the left (quite spongy in wet weather). It runs alongside a housing estate and reaches a small road at marker 20. Follow it to the right to reach marker 15.

(15) Turn left onto a path that joins the N398. Follow it for about 100 metres on the left, then turn right into Soldatenstraat towards marker 7. At the junction with marker 7, continue straight ahead on the path towards marker 8. Go through a gate and continue on a pretty path that can be very wet at times (pond in the pasture on the left). At the fork, take the right-hand path and reach marker 8 (barriers).

(16) Continue straight ahead towards marker 14. This path, which used to be very wet, has been beautifully landscaped and no longer poses any problems. At the fork, take the right-hand path and join a small road. Follow it a few metres to the right to reach marker 14.

(17) Then take the path opposite, which is sometimes quite difficult (ascending rut). At the end, turn left to reach the N398.

(18) Follow it to the right and you will reach a square. Cross it to reach the N372. Cross it to reach marker 13. Take the path opposite towards marker 62, walking alongside the campsite.

(19) At marker 62 (barrier), take the path on the right towards marker 63 for a loop towards Marguerite Yourcenar Park. Reach a T-junction at marker 63

(20) Take the path on the left towards marker 93, then, continuing in the same direction, you will reach a crossroads near the D223, at marker 93.

(21) Turn right towards marker 92 and take the short path that joins the D223. Cross the road and take the path opposite leading to the Military Cemetery. 50 metres after the cemetery, you will come to a gate at marker 92. Turn left onto the GR®. Be careful at the gate, you will need to lift your leg and duck your head! You will soon reach a fork and marker 94. Take the fairly flat path on the right and you will reach a gate at marker 73.

(22) Go through the gate (same note as for the previous gate) to reach the main path on the right. You will arrive at the D318. Cross the grassy esplanade and take Rue du Mont Noir opposite. At the fork, turn right into Impasse 3582. At the bottom, at marker 95, turn right and continue straight ahead to reach a T-junction at marker 10. Turn right and you will immediately reach a fork.

(23) Take the path up to the right to reach the Mont Noir shopping street. Follow it for a while on the left. Enter the large car park on the right and cross it, staying as close as possible to the buildings on the left. At the end, exit the car park and reach marker 12.

(24) Take the path downhill on the right towards marker 63.

(20) At marker 63, take the path on the left towards marker 62.

(19) At marker 62, turn right towards marker 61. At marker 61, go through the^{second gate} to enter the large pasture. Continue towards marker 60, following the clear markings (you may be lucky enough to encounter a beautiful herd of cattle). After passing through two gates, you will reach Schomminkelstaat at marker 60.

(25) Cross it and take the path that branches off to the right (gate) towards marker 95. Follow the beautiful, well-maintained path to reach Oude Bellestraat at marker 95. Follow it to the left for 200 metres to reach marker 43.

(26) Then take the path on the left towards marker 93, which you will reach very quickly (barrier). There, take the path on the right towards marker 92. The path turns left to follow the road, then passes close to an observation tower. Immediately after, go through the barrier on the right to reach the road. There is a place to rest opposite. Take the path going uphill opposite and you will immediately come to a fork.

(27) Turn right towards marker 92. This is a beautiful country lane that zigzags and eventually leads to a small staircase. Climb up to reach marker 92. Turn right onto the lane to reach the car park near the mill (Lijstermolen), then the road.

(28) Turn left (this section is not marked) to reach the mill (Baneberg 140 m). At the foot of the mill, look for the narrow path opposite that starts at the foot of a lamppost. You will come to a small road; continue straight ahead, still on the path. You will reach Schomminkelstraat.

(29) Follow it for about 20 metres to the right to reach a large sign (Sentier entre Deux Monts). Leave the road and turn left. Follow the hedge to reach the vineyards. Walk along the vineyard plot and at the end turn right to join a wide path.

(30) Follow it to the right to reach Rodebergstaat (N372) at the chapel at marker 39 (find the signposting). Cross the main road and follow the footpath on the right (towards marker 38). You will soon find a staircase leading down to the woods.

(31) Take the steps and you will reach a crossroads at marker 38. Take the path uphill on the right towards marker 35. At marker 35 (crossroads), take the path opposite to reach a wide path: Rodeberg 138 m.

(32) Follow this path on the left to reach the Kosmos car park at marker 34.

(7) Take the vague path opposite to the right of the hedge (playground). After 50 metres, turn left onto a path (often cluttered, but clear in mid-August 2025) to reach a large path. Turn right downhill, pass marker 32 and arrive at a house where marker 31 is located.

(6) Take the path on the right and, immediately at the fork, turn right again: signposted Picon. Follow this uphill path to reach a chapel after a flight of steps. Go around it on the right (behind or in front) and continue along the path to reach the N372. Follow it for a few metres on the right to reach marker 47.

(33) Cross the N372 and go down the concrete lane towards marker 46. Ignore a path on the right (there are many horses in this area) and reach (either by staying on the main path or by taking the narrow path on the right between the hedge and the wire fence) a T-junction at marker 46.
Take the small road on the left. Pass a street on the right. Immediately afterwards, leave the tarmac and enter the field on the left to walk alongside the vineyards. At the end of the vineyard, rejoin the road and follow it back to the car park (S/E).

This is a physically demanding route, so it is best to be in good shape.

Of course, you need to be well equipped: shoes, walking stick(s).

Bring enough to drink, even though there are many estaminets (traditional cafés) along the way. The Picon arrow leads to a pump that provides neither water nor Picon (unfortunately!).

Other possible starting points

1. From the Mont Noir car park, before (24): it's free on weekdays, but I don't know what time it opens.
2. From the car park near the mill at (28).