Hofstade: Discover Water, Nature and Culture

Hofstade combines water-based experiences, varied trails and remarkable cultural landscapes. The 35-hectare lake at Hofstade-Strand is complemented by a 750 m long, artificially created beach. There are also historic buildings, protected estates and nature areas. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home can combine active days by the water, walks and cultural-historical discoveries here, depending on their travel plans.

Water-based experiences with different focuses

The open-water swimming area is open from the beginning of May to mid-September, provided that the water temperature is at least 16°C. There are swimming lanes measuring 50 m or 100 m. Next to the swimming area is an open-water sports field for water polo and kayak polo. On the canal in Hofstade, kayaking or SUP trips are possible after a short introduction.

The Waterjumppark also provides a clear age framework for planning your day: visitors are welcome there from the age of 7, while the Xtreme tower has a minimum age requirement of 10. Children must always be accompanied by an adult. The high-ropes course is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from the beginning of March to mid-November. These opening times and age requirements help you choose water and climbing activities that suit your stay.

Routes for cycling, walking and observing nature

There are two different formats to choose from for mountain biking days. The mountain bike route starting at Tervuursesteenweg is 18.46 km long and runs 37% on unpaved paths. Shorter but equipped with challenging obstacles, the 6.2 km mountain bike course is located in the centre. This means the choice can be based more on route length and obstacles than on a blanket difficulty rating.

Those travelling on foot will also find various distances. The Barebeekwandelpad runs for 9 km through the Barebeek valley. The circular route “Tussen Zenne en Barebeek” starts at the car park on Gasthuishofweg in Hofstade and leads through the Vriezenbroek nature area. The landscape there is characterised, among other things, by meadows, willow woodlands and ponds with amphibians. The circular route “Hofstade-Strand, Publiek geheim” is 6 km long; information boards along the route provide details about the secrets found there.

A special short path is the 300 m long “Bollebaan”, also known as “Liefkensdreef”. The cycle path, lined with green beech trees, runs along Ambroossteenweg and is a preserved section of a former covered walkway structure. When planning your accommodation, it may be useful to consider in advance whether you mainly want to use long nature trails, cycling routes or activities around the water.

Hofstade-Strand and protected history

The protected ensemble of Hofstade-Strand includes a pier, a beach building, a boathouse and an open-air swimming pool dating from the interwar period. The beach building from 1939 is considered an example of modernist interwar beach architecture. The lake is therefore not only a place for leisure activities, but also a destination for visitors who wish to include architecture and local history in their trip.

The Parochiekerk Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Bijstand and the Kasteeldomein Nieuwenhuizen provide further cultural-historical highlights. The church was built in 1961 according to plans by the architect P. Rome, replacing an older sandstone church. Kasteeldomein Nieuwenhuizen forms part of the protected cultural-historical landscape “Kasteel Nieuwenhuizen met omgeving”, which has been protected since 13 January 1976. The northern part of the Hofstade estate and the adjacent Molenheide are also protected as landscapes. Part of the Domein Hofstade estate, now BLOSO-Domein Hofstade, is protected as a monument.

Sports history is also part of the character of the area. Sportimonium’s mission is to preserve, research and share Flemish and Belgian sporting heritage. This heritage is presented through travelling pop-up exhibitions. A holiday apartment in Hofstade is therefore appealing not only because of the range of activities, but also because it offers the opportunity to incorporate nature, water, sports culture and protected architecture into your own travel plans.

Getting there and choosing accommodation

The Sport Vlaanderen Hofstade site is within walking distance of Hofstade railway station. In addition, De Lijn bus route 28 between Vilvoorde and Mechelen stops near the entrances to the site. When choosing your accommodation, these connections may play a role in deciding to travel without your own car. Also consider which of the experiences mentioned will be the focus of your stay: water sports and swimming, mountain bike routes, walking trails or cultural-historical sites each give your stay a different rhythm.

For the broader travel overview: Zemst.