Ad's Path

The theme of the route revolves around the artwork of Ad Wouters, a sculptor whose work touches on issues of ecology and social consciousness. His familiarity with the materials he would later use in his art, such as plaster and wood, comes from his career in construction, which began when he was 13 and culminated in a period working in the restoration of historic buildings. Unfortunately, his fall from a church tower in a work-related accident ended his days in the construction field, but Wouters used his misfortune as an opportunity to launch himself on a new path as an artist, with a preference for use of recycled materials.

On this walk, you'll encounter several of Ad's trademark wooden sculptures. There are more of them in Leuven, as well as a statue of Saint Michael, which appears to be made of metal but is actually hollow polyester (the material also used to make kayaks) coated with bronze (a cost-reduction measure). Wouters prefers to display his sculptures outdoors so as to maximize opportunities for the general public to enjoy his work.

The tourist office of Flemish Brabant has created a network of numbered directional signs all across Zuid-Dijleland (Southern Dyle River Area). These signs are somewhat useful as landmarks for those taking Ad's Path, but they don't direct you along the itinerary from start to finish. And, often the arrows pointing to each numbered sign don't tell you anything more than which path to take (or even which path not to take). For best results, carry a map such as the one included in this article, or use OpenStreetMap, where the trail can be found.

Food and drink are readily available in Leuven and the villages surrounding the route. Several cafés and restaurants can be found close to the trail, so carrying more than a day’s worth of food is unnecessary.

Tap water is safe to drink throughout Belgium. Water and other refreshments are available in nearby villages and towns. The pump at De Steenberg campground provides non-potable water; potable water can be obtained from Minnebron spring or from nearby sanitary facilities.

There's a multitude of hotels, hostels and other accommodations in Leuven and other nearby towns. But, if you're dead-set on sleeping in close proximity to Ad's Path (and especially if you plan to break the hike up into two or more days), you can spend the night at your choice of two primitive campsites:

1 De Steenberg campground boasts an idyllic setting about halfway down the trail. Campsites are available free of charge on a first-come-first-served basis, but it bears emphasizing that the water at the pump is not potable. There are two nearby sources of potable water — Minnebron spring as well as a modern sanitary facility — each located about 1.5 kilometers from the campground, in opposite directions.

2 Het Spoor/La Trace campground is a brand-new facility established in the summer of 2014, located about a kilometer south of Ad's Path. To get there by bus, take TEC Bus 18 to Sint-Theresiakapel stop; it's a relatively easy 2-kilometer walk from there via Naamsesteenweg, Warandedreef, and several footpaths.

The route can be used year-round. Summers are generally mild, while winter temperatures are usually above freezing. Rain is possible at any time of year and can leave sections of the trail muddy, so waterproof footwear and rain gear are advisable.

There are two public transport services in this part of Belgium — the Flanders Region's De Lijn and the TEC, run by the Walloon Regional Transport Company (Société régionale wallonne du transport). Both can be used to get to Ad's Path.

It's always possible to buy a bus ticket directly from the driver, but if you're planning to use the bus more regularly or as a group, it's advisable to get a card to get a lower fare. For De Lijn you have to go to De Lijnwinkel (shop) at the Leuven's railway station or to other participating retailers. Also, if you'll be taking multiple buses, keep in mind that tickets from one transit system are not valid on the other.

Hikers can get a head start by taking Bus 1 or 2 to the corner of Naamsesteenweg and Leopold III-laan. There is a SPAR shop near this stop, in case you need food or drinks. The buses run very frequently, from Leuven station's 1 Platform 6 (real-time schedule). Continue for about 500m on Naamsesteenweg, then turn right and pass by 2 Brasserie 500 restaurant. After you pass under the motorway viaduct, you'll see the entrance to the Arboretum on your right hand side.

In terms of public transit, Bus 5 (Wakkerzeel—Wijgmaal—Leuven—Haasrode—Blanden—Vaalbeek) is far from the best option for visitors to Ad's Path. You have to get on the bus at 3 Platform 3 of Leuven Station (real-time schedule) and take it to almost the last stop: 4 Brainestraat bus stop in Vaalbeek, just after crossing the express road for the second time. But, since this bus also passes through Heverlee, Haasrode and Blanden, it takes a good while to get to Vaalbeek — and if you're arriving after 18:30, you're out of luck entirely, as it won't go further than Heverlee then. On the other hand, the stop is near one of the best (and hardest-to-photograph) sculptures on the trail: after you get off the bus, make your next left and there you are at Prosperdreef.

If you're following Ad's Path in the direction this itinerary is described, you can take Bus 337 (Leuven—Wavre) back home from 5 Don Bosco bus stop, 6 Zoete Waters bus stop or 7 Sint-Joris-Weert Church. Usually there is a bus every hour, but on Sundays this drops down to every two hours. Buses leave from 8 Platform 8 of Leuven Station (real-time schedule).

TEC Bus 18 passes over Naamsesteenweg through Heverlee and Blanden. It passes around Leuven on the bypass expressway rather than taking city streets, also omitting the stops at Tiensepoort and Parkpoort. This route makes for a faster trip. Bus 18 departs from Leuven Station's 9 Platform 14 (Leuven Station platform 14), and there are a few different stops at which you can get off to access Ad's Path:

De Jacht bus stop, at the corner of Naamsesteenweg and Huttelaan just before the E40 motorway overpass. If you're going to do all of Ad's Path in one go, following the itinerary as described on this article, this is where you'll want to get off.

However, if you're only planning to do a portion of Ad's Path, you can also take Bus 18 further south, to 10 Weerten Dreef bus stop, and follow the route back to the arboretum — this reduces the total distance you'll walk on Ad's Path to 9-14 kilometers.

Better still, you can also get off at the next stop after Weertse Dreef, 11 Sint-Theresiakapel bus stops, from which you can see the 1 ecoduct that local wildlife uses to safely cross the road, as well as two additional statues which you'll see in the woods on your left. From Sint-Theresiakapel, you'll backtrack a little bit along Naamsesteenweg, cross the road, and proceed to Walendreef. The length of your hike back to the Arboretum from there is 11-18 kilometers.

A word of warning for Sunday visitors: on that day, Bus 18 departs Leuven station only once every three hours (9:08, 12:08 and 15:08), so plan your itinerary carefully or choose another method of arrival.

In 2015 Ad added 2 more statues along Naamsesteenweg. These 2 are visible when taking bus 18. One is a giant Equisetum arvense, just before leaving Heverlee. Start looking for it on your right hand side, a little after passing under the E40 highway bridge. The other is a giant Common kestrel, which became the mascotte for the newly developed welcome zone, where you also find a large parking and as of June 2018 also sanitary amenities.

If arriving by train rather than bus, you'll find that you've got a longer walk to the start of the path, but it's a fairly convenient and interesting option for those who've already taken Belgian Rail to get to Leuven, Wavre, Ottignies or Louvain-la-Neuve. Trains leave from 12 Platform D of Leuven Station (real-time schedule); you'll want to get off at either 13 Oud-Heverlee Station or 14 Sint-Joris-Weert Station.

Ad's Path per se starts at directional sign #66 inside the arboretum. Start by following toward #64, but instead make your next left and continue onwards down the shortcut until you see 2 The Director on your right.

Continue following the same path; soon it will veer to the right and you'll come to a fork in the road. Hang a left, then make an immediate right. The path you're on now ends at a "T" intersection where you'll find three information panels at your right hand side. Take a closer look between the trees to your left and you'll also see the friendly owl 3 Ignatius — it's easy to miss it, if you don't know it's there.

Turn left at Ignatius, then left again when the path splits, right at the next split, then keep going straight until you see more numbered directional signs. Make a right toward #65 and continue until you arrive at 4 Neanderthal.

In 2015 a new cycle path was constructed parallel to the E40 highway, which meant traffic on Naamsesteenweg was deviated. This gave Ad the possibility to create another statue. It depicts a common horsetail. Passing by it only makes sense when following the path by bicycle. Continuing straight on Prosperdreef is the better option when on foot. If you want to see it, you need to make a left turn onto Parnassusbergdreef until you reach Naamsesteenweg, then turn right. To get back to Prosperdreef, continue south on Naamsesteenweg, until you reach Brainestraat. Continue until you reach the T-crossing with Onze-Lieve-Vrouwstraat and go right. The next street on your left is Prosperdreef.

It's a bit of a long walk to the next sculpture: continuing toward #65, you'll make a turn toward #603 until you come to a somewhat confusing seven-cornered intersection. Follow Prosperdreef (slightly to the left, the one with the barrier), crossing Onze-Lieve-Vrouwstraat 1.5 kilometers further in Vaalbeek. (Bus 5 passes here; the nearest stop, Brainestraat, is on your left.) Keep going straight on Prosperdreef and on your right you'll see the 5 Bat.

Continue to the south, at the next fork, go left into Diewegstraat. Ad started working on a large bird statue in 2015. In 2016 it was moved out of the way, because a new welcome zone is developed here. Now it's back in its final location, near to a parking lot (and soon a large tower with sanitary accommodations). an overview

After 800m of walking between the meadows, you arrive at #119. Follow the cycle path on Naamsesteenweg to where you can cross.

A little bit south of the crossing, along the side of the road, you can also find 6 Nico, a memorial Wouters created for a man who died in a motorcycle accident here in 2009 at the age of only 22. Although it's not part of the official route, it makes for an easy and quick diversion. You'll notice that the sober style of Nico is in sharp contrast to the lighthearted, whimsical aesthetic of the sculptures on the main trail. It's important to keep in mind that Naamsesteenweg is a high-traffic thoroughfare with no sidewalk, and it doesn't really lend itself well to casual wandering. If you do decide to go and have a look at Nico, it's far better to follow the cycle path than to walk along Naamsesteenweg itself.

Continue southeastward along Margrietendreef (backtracking from Nico if necessary), and be careful when crossing the busy Naamsesteenweg. After 1.3 kilometers, Schoonzichtdreef forks to the left. Here you'll come to directional sign #114, and a choice: a shortcut takes you further along Margrietendreef to Weertse Dreef, then right on Godendreef to Walendreef, saving you 2.5 kilometers of walking at the cost of skipping over the next sculpture listed here. For the full route, turn left at #114, then right at #115 (i.e. not toward #116 or #72). Soon you'll pass the 7 Owl, sitting in his niche inside the Y-shaped trunk of a large tree.

Continue south as far as Weertse Dreef, then make a right and a quick left. Proceed for 200 meters, then make another left. At Walendreef make a right and keep going for 1.2 kilometers. On your right, you'll encounter two sculptures in quick succession: the 8 Woodpecker and 9 The Bird Whistling for Cheer Joy.

There are quite a number of different routes you can take between The Bird Whistling for Cheer Joy and Coprinus: the main route takes you past all the highlights enumerated below, but there are many shortcuts as well to help you shave time and distance off this lengthy stretch of trail.

The first shortcut begins not long after The Bird Whistling..., where instead of turning off Walendreef to Dikke-Eikdreef as in the main route, you continue further to Eleonorendreef, skipping over the next point of interest but saving 1.5 kilometers of distance. However, to follow the full route, you should indeed turn left at Dikke-Eikdreef, continuing across Godendreef until you arrive at Meerdaalwoud's 10 Oldest Oak Tree, which dates all the way back to 1680.

The oak tree stands at the "T" intersection of Dikke-Eikdreef and Kanselierdreef. Continuing on the main route, you'll turn right onto Kanselierdreef and right again on Eleonorendreef (if you took the shortcut mentioned above, this is where you'll end up). Keep going as far as directional sign #113, then hang a left on Weertse Dreef and head toward Naamsesteenweg.

If you've had enough sightseeing for now and would rather pick the itinerary up again later, you can head under the pedestrian viaduct that passes over Naamsesteenweg. Weerten Dreef bus stop, where you can catch TEC Bus 18, is there. The last bus toward Leuven leaves at 19:22 on weekdays and 17:35 on the weekend. Otherwise, continue over the bridge toward directional sign #112 and then #121. When you get to the corner of Prosperdreef, you'll see a high fence: this is the perimeter of a military facility. Turn right toward the fence and then make a quick left, keeping the military facility on your right. After about 600 meters, make another left on Grezstraat. Cross back over Weertse Dreef, then make your next left near the old picnic table you see on the right. Here you have the 11 Oldest Beech Tree in Meerdaalwoud, planted around 1800.

Now backtrack to Grezstraat and Weertse Dreef. Just before reaching it go left into the footpath which leads you straight to August Denteneerpad, where you'll hang a left. At the six-corner intersection of Denteneerpad, Platanendreef, Jamaïcadreef, and Kleine Dreef, you have the choice of making another shortcut. If you make your second right (at "two o'clock", or toward directional sign #108), you'll pass through the 12 Everzwijnbad Playground, saving you 2 kilometers. This charming, rustic playground hidden in the woods features climbing poles and bridges as well as a giant-sized xylophone and pick-up-sticks game — a perfect place to stop for a rest if you've taken the kids along. On the other side of Everzwijnbad is Herculesdreef, where you can pick up the trail again. Otherwise, to follow the full route take Jamaïcadreef due south as far as Walendreef, then turn right. After about 500 meters, you'll find the three-stalked 13 Coprinus.

From Coprinus, make a sharp right on Herculesdreef and keep going past August Denteneerpad until you see a rope course in the trees — you've now reached the 14 De Kluis scout camp. Turn left past the main building and cross over the parking lot at right. You'll see another building with some garbage containers alongside it; go left there (you're on Polderstraat now) and a bit further you'll see the next Ad Wouters sculpture on the path, 15 Baloo.

You're now on the corner of Polderstraat and a side trail. Turn right on that side trail, then right again at the "T" intersection where it ends. After 100 meters or so, you'll come to a four-way intersection where you'll turn left. Now turn right at the building you see in front of you, then make your first left — you're back on Herculesdreef now, on the other side of Everzwijnbad Playground. After about 200 meters, between several other totem poles, you'll encounter the fat-bellied 16 Bosprotter.

Keep going northward on Herculesdreef. If nature is calling, you can turn left on Weertse Dreef and find a 1 sanitary facility

at left with toilets and potable water. There is also a parking lot and a welcome zone here, so you could also start from here. This is also the starting point if you decided to come by train or by using bus 337.

However, the main route heads further north still.

You'll come to a fenced-off area where it's permitted to unleash your dog. Immediately afterward, there's a path on your right that leads through what was once a military area, but is now a nature reserve. The path is paved with concrete, making it accessible to wheelchairs, it's a long alley between the trees. If you want to take a rest, here is a good place.

It's still a straight shot northward up Herculesdreef. Directional sign #19 is straight ahead; keep going past it toward #18 and then #16. On your right, you'll see De Steenberg campground, which you can read more about below. Further north still, at the corner of Witte Bomendreef, you'll see two landmarks: on your right, the 17 Our Lady of Steenbergen Chapel (Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Steenbergenkapel), a charming Baroque- and Rococo-style country church dating back over 350 years. On your left is 18 Minnebron, a natural spring with drinkable water. A bit further along, on the shore of Geertsvijver, you'll find a creation from the spring of 2014 whose style is completely different from any other sculpture on the trail. Instead of being carved from oak wood, 19 Drowning is a figure of a drowning man that's made of a metal wire mesh filled with litter, symbolizing how we all but drown in the solid waste we produce.

After Drowning comes the opportunity to take another shortcut, the last on the itinerary: if you continue northward across Maurits-Noëstraat, the name of the road you're on changes to Parnassusbergdreef and you can continue straight as far as directional sign #12 at the corner of Sint-Annastraat. The shortcut cuts 1.5 kilometers off the route at the price of missing out on the next sculpture. Otherwise, you backtrack a little bit from Drowning and turn right on the path that follows the south shore of De Zoete Waters pond. It will bend sharply to the right, still following the shore, and you'll end up walking northward on a narrow spit of land between De Zoete Waters and Huisvijver ponds toward Maurits-Noëstraat.

If you're hungry or in the mood to take a break from walking, now would be a good time to divert from the path and head left, where there are 1 several restaurants and a place to get french fries, as well as 20 Zoet Waterpark, with play equipment for kids as well as mini-golf (for a fee). As well, if you make your first left before Maurits-Noëstraat coming from Drowning, you'll come to another restaurant, 2 Het Spaans Dak, nearby which it may be possible to rent a rowboat to take on the pond (though in summer 2014 it was closed due to an algae bloom and from 2015 to 2017 they were renovating).

Continuing on the itinerary itself, a little to your left across Maurits-Noëstraat you'll see the continuation of the path, now paved in concrete. Keep going toward directional sign #14, and follow the path as it veers to the right and climbs a hill. At the crest of the hill, turn left through the parking lots of the Stedelijke Sportcomplex football stadium, toward Waversebaan. Cross the road and you'll find yourself in the entranceway of Don Bosco institute, which ends in a cul-de-sac where you'll find 21 Don Bosco on your right, directly in front of the Institute building.

Turn right after Don Bosco toward the playground, then backtrack to Waversebaan via Don Boscolaan and the driveway you took to get here. At Waversebaan, turn left, then make a slight right on Sint-Annastraat, continuing past directional signs #12, #602, #601 and #603 to #65 via Parnassusbergdreef, Karrendreef, and Damendreef. Soon you'll find yourself back at the arboretum. Follow Grezweg back to the starting point.