March 2, 2024

Venntrilogie is Hiking Route of the Year

The Venntrilogie in East Belgium has been chosen as Hiking Route of the Year 2024. The jury announced this on the first day of the Fiets en Wandelbeurs in Ghent.

The Venntrilogie connects some of the most beautiful landscapes in eastern Belgium in six stages and a distance of 109 km. The route runs through three different natural landscapes of the Fens. From the three-country point with the Netherlands and Germany to Bütgenbach. The first two stages through fields, meadows and the Hertogenwald to Eupen. The third and fourth stages run from Eupen to the Signal de Botrange and Malmedy, with a wild and adventurous route. The last two stages connect Malmedy with Robertville and Bütgenbach and are nothing short of spectacular.

Overwhelming nature

The jury, consisting of Gilbert Roels, Christina Bloem and Ivonne Calis, was very pleased with this route for a number of reasons. Many different landscape types are covered and the nature, especially in stages 3 to 6, is overwhelming. Plus points also include full signage in both directions, an information portal at the start/end of each stage, free GPX tracks that you can download and a free guide and website in four languages. She also praised the collaboration with the German Eifel, which makes it possible to plan a multi-day, cross-border hike.

Shortlist with 5 titles

The Venntrilogie was chosen from a shortlist of five walking routes. The other shortlist titles were Van Dorestad naar Dokkum (NL), Rondje Limburg (NL), GRP573 Vesdre & Hautes Fagnes (BE) and Lopen langs de Oude Hollandse Waterlinie (NL).

The Hiking Route of the Year is an initiative of the Fiets en Wandelbeurs to stimulate the construction of high-quality routes. New or recently changed routes in Belgium, the Netherlands and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg are eligible. The jury checks all routes on the shortlist and assesses them based on a large number of criteria such as signage, surface, variation, landscape, etc.

For information about the Venntrilogie: www.ostbelgien.eu.