Honegem

Honegem is a sprawling nature area straddling the boundary of three municipalities — Erpe-Mere, Lede, and Aalst — in East Flanders, Belgium. Covering more than 200 hectares, the site comprises the wet valley meadows of the Dorenbeek stream, former peat pits, hedgerows, tree rows, and small pockets of woodland, including the Solegembos forest. The landscape retains the character of a traditional, extensively managed wetland, with pollard willows marking the field boundaries and watercourses throughout the area.

What is the history behind Honegem?

The Dorenbeek valley around Honegem, Solegem, and Sint-Apollonia was once a site of active peat extraction, a practice that continued until the end of the 19th century in a spot where the Molenbeek stream once meandered — long before coal became the dominant fuel. The depressions left behind by this digging were later repurposed as flax-retting pits: bundles of flax were laid into the water, covered with black alder branches, and weighted down with heavy stones to soften the fibers for textile use. This layered economic history is still legible in the land itself, with the numerous hollows and small ponds scattered across the site standing as direct traces of that earlier craft.

What protection status does the area hold?

Given its ecological and landscape value, the Dorenbeek valley within Honegem, Solegem, and Sint-Apollonia is protected at the European level as part of the Natura 2000 network, falling under the habitat directive area known as the "Forests of the southeast of the Zandleemstreek" (BE2300044). On top of that, since 1992 the wider roughly 100-hectare Honegem-Solegem-Sint-Appolonia complex has carried protected-landscape status under Flemish regional law. This dual layer of protection — European and regional — aims to safeguard both the rare habitats present and the historic pattern of fields, hedges, and tree lines.

What can visitors do at Honegem?

The area is open to visitors and locals alike via two waymarked walking routes, each roughly 10 kilometers long, threading through the site's most distinctive stretches — wet meadows, former peat workings, and stands of old pollard willows. Walking these trails reveals a landscape that shifts with the seasons: lush green meadows in spring and summer give way to a starker but no less striking scene across the wetland valleys in autumn and winter. The site draws nature watchers and anyone looking for a long, quiet walk away from urban surroundings.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Honegem located? On the border of three municipalities — Erpe-Mere, Lede, and Aalst — in the province of East Flanders, Belgium.

How large is this nature area? It covers more than 200 hectares, of which about 100 hectares have held protected-landscape status since 1992.

Are there marked hiking trails at Honegem? Yes, two walking routes are available, each approximately 10 kilometers long.

What is the economic history of the site? Peat was extracted here until the late 19th century, and the resulting pits were later used for retting flax.

Is the area under legal protection? Yes — it forms part of the Natura 2000 network and also holds regional protected-landscape status.