Discover Boutersem: Trails, Village Culture and History

Boutersem combines rural trails, religious heritage and vivid historical experiences. Those looking for a holiday apartment as a base for varied days will find a range of themes here: a 28-kilometre route through the constituent villages, churches and chapels with their own histories, a weekly market, and the Honsem War Site, which preserves a special memory of Belgian aviation.

Exploring farms, fields and the Velpe

The Landbouwleerpad is 28 km long and can be covered on foot or by bicycle. Along a signposted route, information panels lead visitors close to noteworthy farmsteads. It is not just about agriculture: the Landbouwleerpad also addresses biodiversity. The route is particularly suitable for planning a day when you want to combine exercise with concrete insights into the landscape.

The Velpehoevewandeling offers another perspective on the surroundings. It passes through the Velpe Valley, along fields, orchards and several attractive historic buildings. The Malendriesbeek Valley is a particularly valuable side valley of the Velpe. Several GR routes run through Boutersem and are easily accessible from Vertrijk railway station. This allows you to include walking ideas and train travel in your plans without committing yourself to just one type of outing.

Churches, Chapels and Local History

In Boutersem, you will encounter religious heritage in a variety of forms. The Sint-Annakerk in Roosbeek has been converted into an activity centre and museum of local religious heritage. This new use was made permanent after the trial period. The Sint-Hilarius Church preserves a special musical reference: the oldest part of its organ dates from the late 17th or early 18th century. The Sint-Remigius Church has a Neoclassical sandstone façade.

Smaller structures also contribute to the character of the area. The chapels in Boutersem are part of the cultural heritage and often of folk culture as well. Religious devotions in the form of novenas and processions still take place at many monuments today. The Kleine Kringwandeling connects the churches and chapels of Vertrijk, Roosbeek, Butsel and Boutersem. Those interested in village history and sacred art can explore these subjects from several perspectives along this route. The village centre of Neervelp is protected and adds to the picture of the historic districts.

Memorial Sites and a Lively Weekly Market

The Honsem War Site displays a replica of a historic Belgian reconnaissance aircraft on the old runway. It is a replica of the Belgian-built Renard R31. Visitors can learn about a bygone era shortly before and during the Second World War. The Battle of Boutersem offers another historical connection: on 11 and 12 August 1831, the armies of King Leopold I and the Dutch Crown Prince Willem confronted each other here.

To get a glimpse of everyday life today, Boutersem holds a weekly market every Monday from 3 to 7 p.m. It takes place in the car park of the Cultureel Centrum at Kerkomsesteenweg 55. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore consider whether you want to focus primarily on days of walking and cycling, sightseeing or visiting local amenities. This makes it possible to search for a suitable holiday apartment according to your preferred travel rhythm, without reducing the area to just one theme.

Discover More Destinations

For further travel planning, you can also view Grimbergen, Huldenberg, Werchter, Galmaarden, Overijse, Landen, Wijgmaal and Genval.

For the overarching travel overview: Brabant.