BELGIUM - Via Brabantica (5) – Mechelen / Brussel

Original description is in English

This is the day four on the Camino Brabantica. I stood up very early and arrived with the train at 6:30 at the station of Mechelen. The reason of starting early is that the walk to Brussels is around 35km. I walked again to the center at the Sint-Romboutstoren and continued walking through the Ijzerenleen (picture 1), Korenmarkt, Hoogstraat, through the Brusselpoort – the only remaining gate of Mechelen - to the Vrijbroekpark. After passing a giant water tower, you will walk through a tunnel under the busy E19, the highway between Antwerp and Brussels. Every morning, there is a jam to Brussels and I saw cars already driving at pedestrian speed. For a short while, you will walk parallel with the E19 and the river Zenne (picture 2). The Zenne is a small river coming from Brussels. This river is the drain of Brussels. Also sceptic waste from Brussels is directly thrown in the river. Since a few years there is a filtration installation active just after Brussels. So brown elements can no longer be spotted in the Zenne.
At the commune of Zemst, you will follow the canal of the Zenne leaving the E19. A few kilometer further, in Eppegem, the camino leaves the river and you will walk along meadows but still on small vehicle roads. After walking over De Verbrande Brug, the camino goes straight to Grimbergen on a small dirt path between meadows and gardens. This is a very nice trail. I didn’t know the existence of this path.
The small commune of Grimbergen is known for the Premonstratensian monastery established in 1128 (picture 3). The church, built in baroque style, is impressive. After visiting the church, I rang at the door of the monastery and asked for a sello. The monastery is at the left side if you are facing the main entrance of the church. It’s the first door with a multiple modern entrance facility. Select “Secretary” from the presets or dial the corresponding number. I didn’t see a Norbertine in a white canon. The lady from the secretary told me that they all left for their priest mission.
At Grimbergen, there is a possibility to take a bus to Brussels. But I still had enough energy to continue. The walk to Brussels starts through a park where the remains of the castle of Berthout can be seen. At the end of World War 2, the Germans destroyed the castle before they were chased from Belgium.
You will soon leave the agglomeration and walk on a dirt path between meadows to the capital. (picture 5) After passing close to the coffee factory “Douwe Egberts”, you will walk through a tunnel under the busy Ring of Brussels, also called R0. Just after the tunnel, the agglomeration of Brussels starts and from now on, you will walk between houses till you reach the centre. Except around the Atomium – the monument built in 1958 during the Expo representing a unit cell of an iron crystal – you will walk for a while in a huge park and you will pass the King’s palace. On picture 5, you see also the Japanese tower, another remaining of Expo ‘58. One more thing about the Atomium. At the office section, you can ask for a sello.
After the King’s garden, you will notice a gothic church Notre Dame which is permanently gasified with passing traffic. The church is nice outside. You will go over the Canal Charleroi-Willebroek (picture 6) and after passing the Antwerpse Steenweg, the camino goes through the business centre where you can admire some skyscrapers.
Today’s walk will end at the Centraal Station. If you arrive on a weekday before 16:00 at the Grand Place, you can retrieve a nice sello in the commune hall. That’s the Gothic building with a huge tower on the Grande Place. Go through the gate of the commune hall. On the plaza, just before the exit gate, take the stair up and knock on the right door.