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Hop fields and village walks in Haaltert
Haaltert is a rural municipality in East Flanders, in the Dender region just south of Aalst, and beer has deep roots here. For centuries this was farming country growing hop, flax and rapeseed, and the local history society counts about ten breweries and four mills in old Haaltert; today a single brewery keeps that tradition going. The municipality brings together the villages of Haaltert, Denderhoutem, Heldergem and Kerksken, plus part of Terjoden, and each kept its own nickname: Denderhoutem's turf farmers, Heldergem's Frenchmen and Kerksken's gin drinkers. Those nicknames now name the council's walking routes, from the 8.9 km Turfboerenpad to the 6.6 km Fransmanpad, and the 9.2 km Den Dotter walk crosses wet meadows along the Molenbeek. On the square stands the neo-Gothic Sint-Gorikskerk of 1870-1872, with a protected 1877 organ, and the station on the Brussels to Kortrijk line makes a day of walking easy without a car.
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About Haaltert
Haaltert is a rural municipality in the Belgian province of East Flanders, in the Dender region just south of Aalst. It brings together the villages of Haaltert, Denderhoutem, Heldergem and Kerksken, plus part of Terjoden, and in feudal times these villages belonged to the Land of Rotselaer, whose three red lions still appear on the municipal coat of arms.
The local history society traces Roman finds and an early Frankish settlement here, and a charter of 1046 names a lord Engelbert of Haletrut, who founded a chapter of twelve canons at the Sint-Gorik church; the chapter moved to Aalst in 1495. Today's Sint-Gorikskerk on the square is a large neo-Gothic church built in 1870-1872 to designs by Ferdinand De Noyette, after the older church partly burned in 1869. Inside are a painting of the martyrdom of Saint Lawrence attributed to J. Van Cleef and an 1877 Vereecken organ, which is a protected monument. Haaltert station, built around 1866-1867 by the Ouest de Belgique railway company, is protected too.
For centuries this was farming country growing hop, flax and rapeseed, and the history society counts about ten breweries and four mills in old Haaltert. Lace followed: in the early 1900s lace schools opened, and in 1930 hundreds of women still worked from home for some thirty lace firms. Each village kept its own nickname. Denderhoutem's people are the "turf farmers" after the peat dug there around 1830, Heldergem is the "Frenchman's village" because so many of its workers went to seasonal jobs in northern France, and Kerksken's people are the "gin drinkers".
Those nicknames now give their names to walks. The council's walking routes include the 8.9 km Turfboerenpad from the turf farmer statue in Denderhoutem, the 6.6 km Fransmanpad from the Frenchman statue in Heldergem, an 8 km chapel path from Kerksken church and the 6.8 km Ter Heydenpad from Haaltert station through the De Keelman nature area. The 9.2 km Den Dotter walk starts in Oud Dorp, Heldergem, and crosses wet meadows and marshy woods along the Molenbeek. Paper route maps are free at the council's tourist information points.
Haaltert is easy to reach by train, with its station on the Brussels to Kortrijk line, so a day of walking can start and end on the platform.
Haaltert once had around ten breweries among its hop fields, and today a single brewery keeps that tradition going. It is a quiet find for anyone who likes their beer with a story and a walk in the fields beforehand.
Frequently asked questions about Haaltert
Haaltert is easy to reach by train: its station is on the Brussels to Kortrijk line, so a day of walking can start and end on the platform. The 6.8 km Ter Heydenpad even starts at the station and runs through the De Keelman nature area.
The council's routes include the 8.9 km Turfboerenpad from the turf farmer statue in Denderhoutem, the 6.6 km Fransmanpad from the Frenchman statue in Heldergem and the 6.8 km Ter Heydenpad from the station. Paper route maps are free at the council's tourist information points.
Yes, for centuries this was farming country growing hop, flax and rapeseed, and the local history society counts about ten breweries and four mills in old Haaltert. Today a single brewery keeps that tradition going, and lace followed farming: in 1930 hundreds of women still worked from home for some thirty lace firms.
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