The best walks and hikes around Beernem

A very large forest with various amenities, including a tea room and restaurant. There's also a herb garden and a farm where you can buy ice cream.

The viewing room is located near the roundabout between junctions 19 and 12 of the Bulskampveld walking network, along the lane leading from the Aanwijs car park in Beernem to the Bulskampveld Visitor Center. The viewing tower is accessible via a lane near the small bicycle parking facility between junctions 28 and 29 of the Brugse Ommeland cycling network. (Flemish Land Agency)

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)

Contrary to what the ominous name suggests, this forest domain is an earthly paradise for plants, animals and visitors! Together with the nearby Lippensgoed-Bulskampveld, this is the largest forest complex in West Flanders with a total of 540 hectares. Heathland, ponds, pine and spruce forests adorn the landscape. Various animals, from amphibians to birds and mammals, find their way to this green oasis. The Vagevuurbos and the Lippensgoed-Bulskampveld are part of the Bulskampveld landscape park. (Natuur&Bos)

Every year, the VOC takes in more than 4,400 wild animals in need of help with the aim of releasing them back into the wild. In addition to rehabilitating wild animals, they also want to offer added value in terms of education. For example, several hundred guided tours are given to both schools and interested groups every year. Every now and then, an open day is also organised, where you can also take a look behind the scenes as an individual visitor. (Brugse Ommeland)

The current castle is the second to be built in the Bulskampveld. The Liège architect Clément Léonard drew the plans for this neo-Gothic country estate. From 1887 to 1892, approximately 80 men worked day in, day out on the new castle and the outbuildings. Count H. de Meeus financed the prestigious project as the client. The new castle shows little castle allure. It is a large country house in a sober, neo-Gothic style. At the same time as the construction of the castle, a new coach house was built, as well as horse and cow stables. On the side of the vegetable garden, now a herb garden, we notice that parts of older buildings were used: among other things, a piece of fieldstone wall was preserved. A water tower was constructed on the corner of the coach house. On top of this tower stood a mill that pumped the water from the artesian well. A clock-like instrument on the tower indicated the height of the water supply. (Province of West Flanders)

After the Tillegembos (Bruges) and the Palingbeek (Ypres), the Lippensgoed-Bulskampveld became the third provincial domain of West Flanders. In 1970, 201 ha of forest, agricultural land, park, castle and associated farms were purchased and opened to the public after construction and development. The Lippensgoed-Bulskampveld was the largest public domain in West Flanders for a long time. In the 1980s, the castle garden was transformed into a didactic herb garden and the exhibition of agricultural materials in galleries around the herb garden was established. In 1990, one of the leased farms within the provincial domain became available. In order to increase the recreational opportunities, various afforestations were carried out there and new avenues were created. With an additional acquisition of 17 ha in 1992, the surface area was increased to 218 ha. About 10 years later, in 2003, 6 ha of St-Amandus were rented and integrated into the existing domain via an educational nature trail. Finally, in 2005, about 8 ha of forest were purchased and added to the public domain, bringing the total to 232 ha. (Province of West Flanders)

A boardwalk over a large pond: fun guaranteed. And a beautiful panorama.