De Averegten

De Averegten is a provincial green domain in Heist-op-den-Berg, in the Belgian province of Antwerp, covering roughly 100 to 118 hectares. Its landscape is defined by a natural mix of deciduous woodland, meadows, ditches and ponds, so the scenery shifts constantly as you move through it.

What is the history behind this site?

The area was originally part of the estate belonging to Isschot Castle. During the period when it served as the castle's surroundings, it functioned as a pleasure garden and hunting ground — the historic castle ponds have survived to this day, although the castle itself remains privately owned and lies outside the boundaries of the current provincial domain. The walking forest in its present form was laid out in the 1970s, and the site gained official status as a provincial domain in the 1990s.

What can visitors do here?

The domain offers five different walking routes ranging from about 1.2 to 3.3 kilometres, making it one of the more extensive walking areas in the region. The longest, the green route at 3.3 km, is surfaced with dolomite gravel and can be used in any weather, including by wheelchair users.

Facilities include a picnic meadow, an animal pasture, a play area and a strict nature reserve zone. Along the walking routes visitors pass a brasserie with an outdoor playground, a botanical garden, a natural playground called "Hobbeldonk", playing fields and a small children's farm.

What makes the botanical garden here special?

One of the distinctive features of De Averegten is its botanical garden, whose story begins in the former polder village of Oorderen. When that village disappeared in the middle of the 20th century due to the expansion of the Port of Antwerp, René Vertommen (1920–2011) brought his garden along with him to Heist-op-den-Berg, where it still forms part of the domain today.

What wildlife lives in the domain?

The site is a breeding ground for several bird species, including barn owls, little owls and long-eared owls. In the wooded sections, signs of foxes, polecats, stoats, weasels and large-eared bats can be found.

Where is the entrance located?

The official entrance, together with the reception building, is located at Boonmarkt 4a, 2220 Heist-op-den-Berg.

Frequently asked questions

How many walking routes does De Averegten have? Five marked routes ranging from about 1.2 to 3.3 km, including one route accessible to wheelchair users.

Is there anything for children at De Averegten? Yes — a play area, the natural playground "Hobbeldonk", playing fields and a small children's farm.

Was the site once part of a castle estate? Yes, De Averegten originally belonged to the Isschot Castle estate and served as a pleasure garden and hunting ground; the historic castle ponds still remain today.

Where does the domain's botanical garden come from? It was relocated from the former village of Oorderen, which disappeared due to the expansion of the Port of Antwerp, by René Vertommen.