Wilrijk – Experience Trails, History and Nature

Wilrijk invites you to combine a stay filled with activity, history and green landscapes. The approximately 18-kilometre-long Geitepad runs through the centre and the green southern edge of Wilrijk, making it a useful guiding thread for anyone who wants to explore the area on foot or by bicycle. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Wilrijk, you can plan your trip around such varied experiences: a longer route, historic sites or a stroll through parkland.

Hiking and cycling between the centre and the southern edge

The Geitepad is a hiking and cycling route. Take its approximate length of 18 kilometres into account when planning your day and choose the section that suits your desired pace of travel. Another option is the audio walk “10,000 Steps through Wilrijk”, written by Andy Fierens. It combines walking with stories and impressions of Wilrijk, without requiring you to limit your trip to a straightforward tour of sights.

Cyclists can also focus on history: Fort 7 can be explored together with the other Brialmont forts via the Brialmont Route. The fort was built of brick between 1860 and 1864 and is the best-preserved fort in Antwerp’s defence system. Anyone interested in military history and architecture will find a particularly distinctive aspect of Wilrijk here.

Historic places and stories

Hof Ter Beke combines history with a walk. The building has been a listed monument since 15 December 1982; the oldest known reference dates back to the 14th century. Hof Ter Beke is also the only castle in Wilrijk with a tower and is now a walking park. This makes it possible to combine a historic site with time spent in nature.

The “Schoonselhof ’14–’18” walk presents ten personal stories from the First World War. The Schoonselhof military cemetery is also associated with spies, priests and pilots from the First World War. These offerings give a trip to Wilrijk a historical perspective that extends beyond individual buildings.

Park van Eden as a green choice

For a stay filled with nature experiences, Park van Eden is an important point of reference. It is considered Antwerp’s largest natural playground. Numerous hiking and cycling paths run through the park, providing access from all sides. You can walk there through meadows and along ponds, crossing hills. Bus routes 17, 21, 130, 135, 141, 180, 181, 182 and 183 stop near Park van Eden.

When looking for accommodation in Wilrijk, it is therefore worth deciding on your preferred type of trip first: the Geitepad and the Brialmont Route are ideal for active days, Hof Ter Beke and Fort 7 for historical discoveries, while Park van Eden provides a clear focus on nature. This allows you to choose a holiday apartment or holiday house based on the focus of your trip without losing sight of the area’s various facets.

Discover more destinations

If you would like to expand your search to other destinations, you can also explore Berendrecht-Zandvliet-Lillo, Merksem and Borgerhout.

Return to the overview of higher-level destinations: Antwerp.