The best cycling routes around Schilde

Place where the Mas is...

Graceful art on the ponds...

Magnificent view of the pond...

Great to end your trip with some coffee and cake, and view on the lake.

Artist Dedrie creates a pair of swans for Rivierenhof “It was a difficult birth, but it is a twin after all” At the request of the Antwerp provincial government, the Schoten-based sculptor Mark Dedrie is currently creating two swans. The elegant sculptures will be placed at the castle pond of the Provincial Green Domain Rivierenhof in Deurne. “Fourteen years ago, I exhibited my work in the castle of Rivierenhof,” Mark recalls. “There were also people from the provincial government who were interested in my sculptures back then. When I exhibited my penguin sculptures, made of stainless steel, in 2005, they asked me if I was interested in designing similar sculptures for Rivierenhof. But stainless steel is not suitable for outdoor use. It is also too expensive a material to make large sculptures from.” It was during Dedrie’s exhibition in the Castle of Schoten last year that the provincial government showed interest again. “I was exhibiting my swan ‘Crescendo’ at the time, and apparently, that sculpture, made of bronze, was well-received. But I didn’t want to sell that swan to the provincial government; I preferred to make two new sculptures that would form one beautiful whole together.” Calling card Mark made a proposal to the Province, and nine months later, the decision was made. “It was a difficult birth, but it is a twin after all!” laughs the artist. “I am therefore extremely satisfied with the location, which is an interesting calling card for my work.” Who is Mark Dedrie (°1962) After establishing himself as a freelance sculptor in 1995, he participates in national and international exhibitions and renowned art fairs. One of his early works, ‘You can see the world dance in Schoten’, is located in the Schoten Municipal Park. As the only sculptor in the world, he created sculptures in stainless steel using the ‘lost wax’ process in 2005. His sculptures can be viewed permanently in galleries in Sint-Martens-Latem and the Early Birds Art Gallery in Brasschaat. Source: https://standbeelden.be/standbeeld/3459

Beautiful avenue with a cycle and walking path; the avenue leads towards the abbey.

Beautiful walking and cycling path through an avenue.

The Scherpenbergmolen is a stone corn windmill, a mountain mill type, located on the northwest side of Antwerpsesteenweg (no. 378), on the corner of Tichelmanstraat. The name Scherpenbergmolen comes from the toponym Scherpenberg, while the vernacular referred to it as the "Stone Mill" (Stone Mill), because there was also a wooden mill in Westmalle. The mill was erected in 1843 by the brothers Joannes and Petrus Mullenbrück (Meulenbroeck) on their parents' property in the area of "De Jaentjes." The mill's construction site was designated as follows: "more than half an hour outside the customs line, 70 meters from the main Antwerp-Turnhout road and 45 meters from the local road Tichelmanstraat." Joannes and Petrus Mullenbrück were the sons of Christianus Mullenbrück, originally from Westphalia, Germany, who settled in the municipality of Westmalle in 1808 as a lime distiller. Joannes became a miller there, and his brother Petrus moved to Ossendrecht, the Netherlands, to also pursue the miller's trade.