The best dog-friendly hikes and walks in Bertembos En Grevensbos

In addition to a bunker used for bat hibernation, there is of course an information board. Did you know, by the way, that you can find all the bunkers along the KW-line that are set up for bat hibernation by ticking a box on the map where they are all listed? Look at https://www.regionalelandschappen.be/kw-linie and select "ingericht voor vleermuizen".

Some former bunkers of the KW line have been repurposed as a wintering spot for bats. And this one is no exception. The municipality of Haacht was and still is one of the most active in managing these and other remnants of the war. For those who follow the KW line in detail: you will also find it on the map with all constructions, namely https://www.regionalelandschappen.be/kw-linie There it is described as type P 41 defense 2nd line.

The Haachts Broek, the Antitankgracht, and the Schorisgat together form the beautiful green belt of the Leibeek valley. Natuurpunt is restoring the patchwork of grasslands, roughlands, forests, fields, and marshes here. Where necessary, poplar forests are being converted into more natural mixed deciduous forests. Source with recommended walks and more at https://www.natuurpunt.be/natuurgebieden/antitankgracht-haachts-broek Extra information for enthusiasts about the alder swamp forest in the Haachts Broek and the birds in the area. "The Haachts Broek is the place to hear an oriole. In addition, in the Haachts Broek, there is a plot where hundreds of betony plants grow, which is a paradise for flower experts and butterfly species. Betony grows as well here as in few other places in Flanders." Source: https://www.birdingplaces.eu/nl/birdingplaces/haachts-broek

At the beginning of this section of boardwalk (coming from the bunker) there was a sign indicating that you needed high boots from there. The path does indeed run over a very wet section but I went on anyway. At the end there was a similar sign. And then I had to turn back. The regular path after the boardwalks was simply too wet for my hiking boots. You have been warned :)

The buzzard received a new warning sign. The path leads from the drier parts of the Haachts Broek to the wet sections with their boardwalks.

One of the entrances to the Haachts Broek. Here you still have a lot of forest, field and sandy roads. The Haachts Broek forms, together with the anti-tank ditch and the Schorisgat, the beautiful green belt of the Leibeek valley. The Haachts broek is a wet area because the loamy sand and clay soil is difficult to penetrate. Precisely because the area is so rich in water, it was spared from development. The wet grounds were used as pasture, and the higher and therefore drier grounds were suitable as arable land. More at https://www.natuurpunt.be/natuurgebieden/antitankgracht-haachts-broek

This boardwalk runs from the Leibeek (if you walk north) to approximately the entrance to the grazing area, along which you can walk to the bunker used by bats. After that, there is another long boardwalk that runs through an even wetter area and which you often cannot pass (unless with high boots as indicated). Here it is usually not too bad, although thanks to the path you already cross some quite wet parts of the marsh.

Beware during rainy weather: it is COMPLETELY underwater !!