Top 20 Natural Monuments around Zedelgem

Explore the universe… right in Bruges! 🌍✨ The Planet Trail in the Beisbroek Domain is a unique walking experience where you discover our solar system to scale, right in the middle of nature. During this peaceful and family-friendly route, you walk from planet to planet, each represented by artistic sculptures that make the universe tangible. From the sun to the farthest planets: you'll experience the distances and proportions within our solar system in a surprising way. The trail winds through the green Beisbroek Domain, past forests and clearings, offering a perfect blend of relaxation and wonder. Ideal for families, curious walkers, and anyone interested in stars and science. An original highlight where nature, art, and the cosmos come together — small in distance, grand in experience! 🚀

The herb garden is located at the rear of the castle, opposite the entrance to the visitor center. It is accessible via the stairs or the ramp next to the restrooms. This unique herb garden is open to the public from sunrise to sunset. (Province of West Flanders)

The name suggests it: duck decoys were built to catch wild ducks for consumption. A duck decoy is a pond surrounded by a ‘decoy forest’ and long catch pipes in every corner. The catch was a combination of tame barn ducks and a brown decoy dog (which looked like a fox because of its colour). The decoy man chased the ducks to the end of the catch pipe, where they were caught in nets. Although there are many duck decoys in the Netherlands, this is indeed a Flemish invention. The duck decoy in Meetkerke (from the 16th century) is one of the few remaining examples. Of course, the duck decoy is no longer used for hunting. One of the catch pipes was recently completely restored, a special piece of history restored to its former glory! The duck decoy of Meetkerke is located in a beautiful part of the Flemish nature reserve: the Meetkerkse Moeren. You can easily find the hidden spot via the Meetkerkse Moeren walking route!

The information board also warns the hiker about the “eternal hunter” who is said to roam here at night. According to legend, a farmer’s son preferred hunting to harvesting, so the farmer/father cursed him to an eternal hunt. Sometimes you can still hear the hunting horn or the calling of the dogs. I didn’t hear anything, but then again, I don’t normally walk through a forest at night. 😉

The Wulvemote is still very recognizable in structure, even though nature has taken back much of what once was. When reading the information board, this mote (or motte) refers to a house (made of wood and loam) for a farming family and herd surrounded by a ditch. Another theory would see this mote as part of a protective belt of various motes. This protective belt would have functioned as a line of defense against the Norsemen. Little is known about the function(s) of motes and it will probably remain a mystery forever…

Camp house open from March 30 to the end of September on Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM. In July and August also open on Wednesday afternoons.

The planetary path that leaves from the castle represents the distances between the different planets to scale. During that time, mom and dad can enjoy a drink and a drink in the adjacent Carriage House. (Brugse Ommeland)

During the First World War, 18,000 German soldiers stayed in these areas. After the Second World War, the Vloethemveld was converted into a prisoner of war camp housing approximately 100,000 prisoners, mainly of German and Baltic origin. Meanwhile, the local population knew little or nothing about this camp. It explains why the Vloethemveld POW camp is not part of our collective memory... (Brugse Ommeland)