Pulderbos: Village History and Nature Trails

Pulderbos has many sides: a historic village centre with a stone windmill and triangular square, as well as stream valleys, woodland and predominantly agricultural surroundings. The trails also offer different experiences—from stream crossings in Lovenhoek to the Blommerschotpad and a walk that starts at the windmill site. There are also opportunities for horse riding and cycling.

Village Centre, Buildings and History

The village centre developed around the triangular Kempen village square, which has been protected since 1976. Buildings around the square include the former town hall, a presbytery and a long village house. Other features of the village centre include the parish church, two presbyteries and a village brewery.

The Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk is a late Gothic church dating from the 16th century. Its west tower is early Gothic and built of white sandstone from the 13th century. The church thus displays two clearly distinct architectural periods.

Construction of the stone windmill began in March 1840, and it turned for the first time in 1843. Today, the mill and its surroundings are protected. These dates give the building a specific historical context without reducing its history to a single year of construction.

The smaller structures also have their own distinctive features. The Onze-Lieve-Vrouw chapel is a small 19th-century brick chapel in the woods by the Willeboorebeek. It has a slate-covered gabled roof and a wrought-iron cross. Another landmark is the “Boskruis,” erected in Pulderbos in 1940: a crucified Christ as a guardian in the woods. It was intended to remind devout passers-by of the sacrifice on Calvary; the place is known as “het Kruis.”

The village’s history also includes De Zwarte Arend, also known as “De Hel.” J.B. Van De Kieboom, a clerk of the city of Antwerp, built it around 1583; in 1630, it became a brewery. The village centre thus features both religious buildings and reminders of village life in the past.

Stream Valleys, Woodland and Trails

Lovenhoek is a nature reserve in Pulderbos managed by Natuurpunt. It encompasses the winding valley of the Molenbeek and a varied nature trail. Stepping logs and stream crossings are among the trail’s features, as are places to picnic. If you are interested in a walk with waterways and changing terrain, this offers a different experience from a tour of the village centre’s architectural history.

The Blommerschotpad crosses a stream-valley reserve in the valley of the Delfte Beek and passes through a typical Kempen woodland complex. Pulderbos is also part of the protected landscape area of Domein Blommerschot en Beulkbeemden. This landscape area includes a central woodland, an airfield, an agricultural enclave and valley landscapes. The description thus brings together woodland, agriculture and open landscapes, without implying that they all have the same character.

A walk starts at the Pulderbos windmill site and leads through beautiful natural scenery, wooded areas and a predominantly agricultural landscape. Compared with the stream-focused trail descriptions for Lovenhoek and the Blommerschotpad, this walk also places an emphasis on agriculture. This gives you a practical point of reference when weighing up different landscape experiences.

For horse rides, Manege De Heide riding centre is in Pulderbos, surrounded by woods and green spaces. Numerous well-signposted bridleways connect to it, offering opportunities for rides lasting several hours. Check the current trail conditions and details of available services in advance. A 2020 guidebook describes the Zoersel–Zandhoven cycling route, which follows country roads through Pulderbos and Pulle to the Albert Canal. Before setting off, it is worth checking the current route and signage.

These interests lead to different day plans and help you discover Pulderbos in a way that suits your own mix of travel interests.

For the wider travel overview: Zandhoven.