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Malou Memorial Cross

Malou Memorial Cross

Highlight • Monument

Malou Memorial Cross

Recommended by 48 cyclists out of 50

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Location: Balen, Turnhout, Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium

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Top cycling routes to Malou Memorial Cross

4.6

(105)

791

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1. Beverlo Canal – Lommel Sahara loop from Leopoldsburg

52.2km

03:03

80m

Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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4.2

(5)

191

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2. Beverlo Canal – Achel Mill loop from Balen

80.4km

05:27

140m

Expert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Expert

5.0

(1)

127

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3. Cycle path along the mine spoil heap – Malou Memorial Cross loop from Balen

60.9km

04:00

180m

Expert bike ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

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Tips

🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën

March 9, 2025

Historical interpretation of the Malou Memorial Cross.
Let's go back in time:
On September 11, 1944, 10 residents of Schoorheide were shot. Two of them escaped this atrocity, albeit seriously injured. They were taken by handcart through the Balen fields during the night to the Gasthuis van Balen, where they were secretly cared for by local doctors. Ferdinand Ruymaekers (+1978) and Victor Gypen (+1989) carried the drama with them for many years and were able to tell the next generations about this atrocity.

Facts:
On September 11, 1944: German soldiers execute 10 Balenaren
1944 - 1945: Establishment of the Memorial Cross (Calvary) and Memorial Monument (Churchyard of Schoonheide)
1945: Victims reburied in the cemetery of Schoorheide
11 September 1945: Inauguration of the Memorial Monument in the Cemetery of Schoorheide.

Information can be read on site.

Translated by Google •

lilian2260

June 11, 2023

Along the Antverpialaan is the War Cross of the Malou, also known as the 'Calvary Hill'. It is a memorial to the Balen civilian victims in the aftermath of the German occupation during World War II. The war drama of the Malou (see below) took place on September 11, 1944, during the retreat of the German occupiers. Some retreating SS soldiers took ten innocent civilians from their homes and forced them to dig a deep well. When that was done, fire was opened on the civilians. Two of them survived the attack and were still able to tell what had happened.

The names of the ten victims were written under the large Christ statue of this monument. (balen.be/product/1176/het-warscross-van-de-malou)

Translated by Google •

PinionRadlerJan

May 24, 2024

Small memorial commemorating the atrocities of the war.

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 40 m

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Wednesday 5 November

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Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

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Location: Balen, Turnhout, Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium

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Malou Memorial Cross

1. Beverlo Canal – Lommel Sahara loop from Leopoldsburg

2. Beverlo Canal – Achel Mill loop from Balen

3. Cycle path along the mine spoil heap – Malou Memorial Cross loop from Balen

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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