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Hengelhoef Forest Chapel

Hengelhoef Forest Chapel

Highlight • Religious Site

Hengelhoef Forest Chapel

Recommended by 23 hikers out of 24

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for: Natuurreservaat Hengelhoef

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

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Best Hikes to Hengelhoef Forest Chapel

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309

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1. Hengelhoef Nature Reserve – Forest Chapel of Hengelhoef loop from Nieuwe Kempen

6.96km

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Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

4.6

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2. Hengelhoef Nature Reserve – Hengelhoef Visitor Center loop from Nieuwe Kempen

8.22km

02:06

30m

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

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Intermediate

4.5

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3. The Pit of Zonhoven – Pond in the Heath loop from Ten Hout

23.7km

06:05

110m

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

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Tips

Peter 🥾🐾🌲

January 28, 2025

On one of the inland dune tops, the pious family de Beeckman de Vieusart-Wittouck had a chapel built, dedicated to the Mother of God.
These dunes were created during the last ice ages by the prevailing westerly wind that blew away the bare sand from dried-up stream or river beds during dry periods.

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An 🇧🇪

November 13, 2024

The forest chapel on the enormous domain of Hengelhoef was founded in 1930 by the noble family de Beeckman de Vieusart-Wittouck, who live in the castle complex Engelhof. This ‘forest chapel of Hengelhoef’ was dedicated to the Mother of God. Above the door is a statue of Our Lady with child.

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Ward

January 24, 2025

The forest chapel was founded in 1930 by the noble couple de Beeckman de Vieusart-Wittouck. Emilie Wittouck was a descendant of the family that acquired Hengelhoef after 1794. Emilie, like her husband, Baron Fernand de Beeckman de Vieusart, were very pious people. For example, they tried to establish a Catholic school, a nursing home and also a new parish at Hengelhoef. These attempts yielded nothing, but around 1930 they had a chapel built on a dune top in the forest.

At that time, the family still lived in the castle complex that still exists today. Baroness Wittouck regularly came to the chapel to reflect, until her death in 1947.

In 1964, the chapel was restored by the Christian Mutuality.

A fire destroyed a large part of the chapel in early 2011. Later it was renovated again by Limburgs Landschap vzw, the owner and manager of the Hengelhoef nature reserve. Unfortunately it remains a regular victim of vandalism.

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Elevation 80 m

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Wednesday 5 November

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Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

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

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Hengelhoef Forest Chapel

1. Hengelhoef Nature Reserve – Forest Chapel of Hengelhoef loop from Nieuwe Kempen

2. Hengelhoef Nature Reserve – Hengelhoef Visitor Center loop from Nieuwe Kempen

3. The Pit of Zonhoven – Pond in the Heath loop from Ten Hout

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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