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Zichem, Belgium

Hike to Demerbroeken

05 March 2022

Located in the Demer Valley, Demerbroeken is a nature reserve mainly composed of floodplains, making it an ideal place for a peaceful walk in the heart of the Flemish Brabant countryside.

Discover the Demerbroeken Nature Reserve on foot

This weekend, we went to discover the Demerbroeken nature reserve. Located 40 minutes by car from Brussels, this small piece of nature in Flemish Brabant is also accessible by train.

Demerbroek - Prairie along a stream
Dermerbroek - Grey Heron in a marsh

Three hikes are proposed to discover the nature reserve: the green one of 2.4 kilometers, the blue one of 5.8 kilometers and the red one of 8.4 kilometers. It is also possible to combine the different routes for the most advanced hikers and discover the entirety of the Demerbroeken. We have done the blue hike (5.8 km) and the red hike (8.4 km) and we detail all these 2 hikes below.

Information panels with the Demerbroeken hiking map

5.8km Hike at Demerbroeken

Once the car is parked in the car park behind the Testelt church, we begin our hike in the Demerbroeken. We leave the village center by climbing a small path under the pines. This offers a panoramic view of Testelt at several points, with the Demer winding below.

Panorama over the city of Testelt
Woman hiking through the pines

Alone at the start of this journey, we enjoy the calm to observe the birds singing and dancing around us at the beginning of March. Nature whispers to us, spring is not far away despite the shy temperatures of this beautiful sunny day.

Blue tit on a branch
Blue tit
woman hiking on a path in the undergrowth

We are gently descending from this enchanted interlude and turning left on the road, following the blue signs. We then discover the first flooded meadows and the few bodies of water typical of the Demerbroeken. First stop at the observatory cabin, which offers a view of the pond and all its 2-legged residents.

Woman back observing a pond of the Demerbroeken
pond of Demerbroeken through the opening of the observation hut
Hut of observation of the Dermerbroeken
Macro photo of a flower

After this short break, we continue our journey and traverse several boardwalks between marshes and wooded areas that keep our feet dry.

Undergrowth Demerbroeken
Woman hiking Demerbroeken
Caillebotis Demerbroeken

A few minutes' walk later, we stumble upon the observation tower. Climbing the few steps of it, we have a view of the surrounding meadows and the few bodies of water that welcome small and large birds.

Observation tower of the Dermerbroeken
Observation tower
Man looking at the meadows and marshes from the top of the Demerbroeken tower

After a walk through fields and new footbridges, the hike ends alongside the Demer.

Man walking on a footbridge

Practical information

🗺 Itinerary • Follow the blue markers 🔹(GPX track)

🚩 Departure • Saint-Pierre Church in Testelt

🅿️ Parking possible behind the church of Testelt

8.4-kilometer hike at Demerbroeken

Starting from the Testelt church, the red trail follows the same initial path as the blue route (5.8 km). Once you descend from the small copse, turn right this time. After passing several bodies of water, we enter the nature reserve. With no clearly defined path, we follow the course of the stream that flows through this vast meadow.

Etang Demerbroeken
Woman with back turned hiking in a meadow
Etang Demerbroeken
The winding Demer in the meadows of Demerbroeken

At the end of the path, we walk a few meters along the main road (we agree, it's not the nicest part of the hike) before returning to nature by taking a small path behind the Zichem train station. We then come across a small park with a playground and some unusual places for picnics, like a giant bench or an old ship.

Woman back view walking on a bridge - Demerbroeken
Man taking a photo on a bench too large - Demerbroeken
Demerbroek

We then pass an old mill and continue the Demerbroeken hike following the Demer back to the start of the loop: Testelt church.

Moulin Zichem
Church of Testelt
Zichem Mill
The Demer and its banks

We hope this immersion in the Demer Valley has pleased you and will inspire you for your next trips to Belgium. Don't hesitate to tag us on Instagram if you undertake this hike!

Practical information

🗺 Itinerary • Follow the red markers 🔺(GPX track)

🚩 Departure • Saint-Pierre Church in Testelt or SNCB Train Station in Zichem

🅿️ Parking possible behind the church of Testelt or at the SNCB Train Station in Zichem

Accessible walk by public transport

Fresque of a fox at Testelt
Frescoes on the Parking lot in Testelt

You don't have a car? No problem, the Dermerbroeken hike is accessible by train from several Belgian stations. It's an opportunity to get out of the house and discover the Flemish Brabant through the Demer valley.

Itinerary from Brussels-Central

Take the IC train to Tongres. After 30 minutes (2 stops) get off at Aarschot and take the L train to Hasselt. Get off after 2 stops (9 minutes) at Testelt.

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