The Thousand-Year-Old Oak is an oak tree in the hamlet of Mellaar in the Belgian municipality of Lummen. The tree is located in a small forest area north of the Dikke Eikstraat. In that small forest area there are several old oaks that are called the son of the Thousand-Year-Old Oak and the grandson of the Thousand-Year-Old Oak.
The trunk circumference of the Thousand-Year-Old Oak is approximately 6.3 meters. The core of the tree has rotted away.

Translated by

•

Els

April 15, 2021

Hiking

In a circle of wooden posts stands a 'judicial tree', under whose crown, according to Frankish custom, court sessions were held. Until the end of the 17th century, those sentenced to death were brought to the 'Verbrand', as the surrounding fields are still called, for execution. At a height of 1.50 metres, this 24 m high mastodon has a trunk circumference of no less than 6.20 m
Close by is also the Jonge Eik, which has also reached the respectable age of more than 35 years.
Source: walking guide: GR 5/E2 Noordzee- Rivièra - route ter lage landen

Translated by

•

November 18, 2022

Hiking

Under the "thousand-year-old" oak, justice was allegedly administered according to Frankish custom since the Carolingian period. The site near the oak presumably served as a place of execution until the end of the 17th century: witches were supposedly led to the tree to carry out their sentence.

This place is known locally as “Het Verbrand” (The Burned), a reference to the stake on which the condemned met their end. According to specialists, this oak would be 400 to 500 years old.

Showing Translation•

Nearby routes

Best routes near The Thousand-Year-Old Oak

4.1

(20)

135

hikers

#1.

The Thousand-Year-Old Oak – Millennium Forest Entrance loop from Lummen

11.0km

02:52

80m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate with device

Send to Phone

Save

Moderate

4.5

(22)

115

hikers

#2.

Black Brook – The Thousand-Year-Old Oak loop from Natuurreservaat De Schurfert - Lange Beemden

27.6km

07:04

110m

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate with device

Send to Phone

Save

Hard

4.3

(25)

hikers

#3.

The Thousand-Year-Old Oak – Hollow Passage loop from Lummen

7.80km

02:03

60m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate with device

Send to Phone

Save

Moderate

Details

Informations

Elevation 50 m

Weather

Tuesday 5 May

13°C

8°C

81 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 13.0 km/h

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See nearby routes

Take Me There

Location: Lummen, Hasselt, South Limburg, Flanders, Belgium

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Willekensberg Nature Reserve

Information Board: Water Fauna and Flora (Oude Laak)

Kiosk van Lummen

Grote Molen on the Demer

Path Through the Meadow

Pathway Between Trees and Fields

Kleinebeek Boardwalk

Kapel van de Beukeboom

Path Between the Thousand-Year-Old Oak and the Former Trenches

Kuitenbijter Trail

Wooden Bridge in the Forest

Singletrack langs de E314

The Thousand-Year-Old Oak

#1.

The Thousand-Year-Old Oak – Millennium Forest Entrance loop from Lummen

#2.

Black Brook – The Thousand-Year-Old Oak loop from Natuurreservaat De Schurfert - Lange Beemden

#3.

The Thousand-Year-Old Oak – Hollow Passage loop from Lummen

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Sign up or log in to keep exploring this route

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️