The large pond in the Kravaalbos forest is a remnant of a historic quarry. As early as the 12th century, a closed farmstead, once used for stone quarrying, stood on the site of Hof te Putte. Hof te Putte and Putstraat clearly refer to the quarries. The forest also owes its name to them. Kravaal comes from "car" and "vaal," meaning "stone" and "valley."
(Kravaalbos Hiking Brochure)

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Willem VS

October 26, 2020

Hiking

There is a large pond between the undisturbed and disturbed forest of approximately 1.5 hectares, created by the extraction of sandstone. In the twelfth century, stone quarries were exploited at the initiative of the Affligem Abbey. These were already exhausted at the end of the sixteenth century. The parish churches of Mazenzele, Baardegem and Meldert (East Flanders) were built with this sandstone. St. Michael's Cathedral in Brussels and St. John's Cathedral in 's-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands are also made from this sandstone.
nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kravaalbos

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🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën

April 21, 2025

Hiking

Where once one of Meldert's most important quarries lay, now the clear water of a large pond sparkles. At first this was a marshland, but in 1962 a stream was dammed and the quarry filled up.

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Best routes to Pond of the Old Sandstone Quarry Kravaalbos

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1. Living Hop Monument, Meldert – Path to the Pond loop from Kravaalbos

8.84km

02:19

70m

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

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Moderate

4.5

(36)

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2. Observation Tower - Stinnetjesaan – Path to the Pond loop from Mazenzele

7.34km

01:54

50m

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

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Easy

4.6

(25)

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3. Kravaalbos Forest – Leibeek source area loop from Meldert

15.9km

04:10

130m

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

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Moderate

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Elevation 40 m

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Friday 6 February

12°C

5°C

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Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 16.0 km/h

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Location: Asse, Halle-Vilvoorde, Flemish Brabant, Flanders, Belgium

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Pond of the Old Sandstone Quarry Kravaalbos

1. Living Hop Monument, Meldert – Path to the Pond loop from Kravaalbos

2. Observation Tower - Stinnetjesaan – Path to the Pond loop from Mazenzele

3. Kravaalbos Forest – Leibeek source area loop from Meldert

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