Discover Nossegem: Sacred Buildings, Landscapes and Witloof

Nossegem combines historic sacred buildings with a gently rolling landscape and its own witloof history. Anyone planning a trip and wishing to combine culture, walks and regional specialities will find a range of options here. When choosing a holiday apartment in Nossegem, it is worth considering in advance whether historic details, landscape experiences or the signposted hiking trails should be the main focus.

Church, Presbytery and Chapels

One of the town’s prominent historic points of interest is the presbytery of the Sint-Lambertus parish, which is a protected monument. The Sint-Lambertus parish church has an organ made by Adrien Rochet, an organ builder from Nivelles. The instrument dates from 1797 and was transferred to Nossegem in 1815. The church also has a cemetery and a Lourdes grotto. The building history of the integrated crossing tower reaches particularly far back: it dates from the 13th century.

Another detail of the town’s history is the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekapel at the corner with Guldendelle. It was built in 1860 on behalf of the Van Espen family. The chapel is described as a brick Neoclassical pillar chapel and bears a Marian inscription from the same year. Anyone interested in church architecture, religious art and local history can incorporate these various testimonies into their own travel plans and take note of the differences between the older building history and 19th-century construction.

Landscape on the Brabant Plateau

Nossegem lies on the northern edge of the Brabant Plateau. The landscape is gently rolling, with elevations ranging from 50 to 72 metres. The local landscape is also characterised by predominantly well-drained loamy soil. A sunken lane has been preserved in the northern part of Namenstraat. When exploring Nossegem, you can take in the gently rolling landscape and the preserved sunken lane.

Hiking Trails of Different Lengths

Three named routes are described with different lengths. The Witloofwandeling is 7.8 km long and has a specified starting point in Nossegem on Sint-Lambertusstraat. The Noskoems Wandelpad measures 7.7 km; its stated starting point is the Sint-Lambertus Church in Nossegem. Both routes are therefore around 7.7 and 7.8 km long, respectively. For travel planning, you can compare these stated distances.

The Dr. Portray wandeling is shorter at 6.4 km. The Colruyt car park in Nossegem is listed as its starting point; at the same time, the route is currently being revised. This status is part of the planning considerations. Therefore, first compare the stated route lengths and bear in mind when choosing your activity that the revision status of the Dr. Portray wandeling differs from that of the other two named routes.

Witloof as Part of the Town’s History

Nossegem also has an agricultural and culinary history. Witloof cultivation began here shortly before the First World War and flourished during the interwar period. Cultivation reached its peak in the 1950s, but has now almost disappeared. For visitors who wish to learn about regional traditions not only through buildings but also through products and their development, this history provides an important additional way of discovering the town. At the same time, it shows that local identity changes over time.

The Right Holiday Apartment for Your Travel Plans

When searching for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Nossegem, you can use your preferred daily activities as a guide. Travellers who are primarily interested in sacred buildings and local history will plan differently from those who wish to include the 7.8 km Witloofwandeling, the 7.7 km Noskoems Wandelpad or the 6.4 km Dr. Portray wandeling. The history of witloof and the landscape on the Brabant Plateau also give your trip a clear theme.

If you would like to consider other destinations, you can also include Sint-Stevens-Woluwe and Sterrebeek in your search.

For the higher-level travel overview: Zaventem.