Starting Point of the Via Belgica in Belgium

At first glance, this may look like ‘just’ a bench in the greenery. Nothing could be further from the truth. Here, along the canal, you are at the very spot where the centuries-old Via Belgica once crossed the border into Belgium. A perfect place to sit down for a moment and reflect on what once took place here.

In Roman times, this area was part of a large villa estate. Although no excavations have been carried out on this exact spot, beautiful finds in the surroundings do confirm the presence of the Roman past here. From this point, you are literally overlooking Roman history. Among the remains from that period was a tumulus (burial mound), now disappeared but still visible on old maps. Remains of a villa have also been found.

The Via Belgica served, much like the canal today, for the economic exchange of goods from farming and livestock. Research has shown that on the opposite side of the canal there was even a native-Roman village — part of the larger villa estate — which specialised in animal husbandry.

Today, a ‘landmark’ can be found here that tells you more about the Roman past of Vroenhoven.