Walking around Overijse

All you need to know for a half- or full-day walking around Overijse.

While anyone can do this walk, I think it could be particularly interesting for one specific group of people. This is people who live in Brussels, who don’t own a car, and would like a day out in the countryside. So this post is geared towards you.

How do I get to Overijse from Brussels?

The simplest way is to take a bus, for example from Etterbeek Station. De Lijn run a number of buses from Etterbeek to Overijse such as 341, 343, 344, 345, 348 and 349. You could also take the metro from your specific location to Hermann-Debroux metro station. From here you can pick up one of the buses mentioned above. Generally there seem to be at least two buses per hour. Remember that in these coronavirus times, a face mask on public transport is essential.

How do I buy a bus ticket?

De Lijn have a nice app that is fairly easy to use. It provides useful information on the bus timetables, including real-time info on where your bus is on its route. You can use the app to buy a m-ticket, either by Bancontact, Visa or Mastercard. If you don’t want to link a payment card you can also choose for an SMS-ticket. One m-ticket costs 1.80 EUR and lasts for an hour, which is really good value. An SMS-ticket costs 2.50 EUR. De Lijn also offers multi-trip tickets and daypasses but I won’t go into these here.

Where do I get off the bus in Overijse?

At the stop Overijse Kerk, which is directly opposite the church in the middle of Overijse. I don’t think you’ll miss it:

Can I get a coffee or lunch in Overijse before I start walking?

At the time of writing, with COVID-19 restrictions still in place, no. But when they are lifted, right next to the bus stop is Den Bonten Os, a cozy restaurant where you can get a coffee, sandwiches, soup, salad or something more filling: here’s the Menu.

What else can I do in Overijse?

After your walk you could visit the Dru!f Grape Museum. (I say “after” because it’s generally only open in the afternoons. But again, check opening hours because it’s currently closed due to the COVID-19). Here you can discover the history of grape-growing in and around Overijse. The region has quite a history of producing its own wine, and there are still a few vineyards in the region producing, apparently, good quality wine. The museum is right next to the bus stop and the restaurant.

Where does the walk start from?

I want to introduce you to a great Flemish invention: the wandelknooppunten network, which is a network of hiking junctions (the same exists for bikes). Outside the grape museum you will see this signpost:

Basically you decide on the route you want to follow, and simply follow the arrows and junctions. So if you are heading from junction 328 to junction 3, you just follow the arrows like this one:

Until you come to junction (knooppunt) 3:

How do I know which junctions to follow?

You can go to this website and make your own route. Just key in Overijse and you will see all the numbered junctions in the area and you can make your own route depending on the distance you want to travel. All distances between all junctions are indicated.

Or you can use this map:

I followed the route 328-3-302-303-305-306-307-308-309-36-300-30-3-328. The total distance was 14.2 km, but you can see that you make a shorter circle or a much larger one.

What kind of countryside will I be walking through?

A bit of everything: arable fields, open meadows, some sunken lanes, the occasional wooded areas, and a few hilly bits but nothing too strenuous. Here are some pics from my walk:

Enjoy walking around Overijse!

I hope the above gives all you Brussels-based non-car-owning countryside-loving people all the instructions you need for a lovely day out in the Flemish countryside. If you still have any questions, just drop me a line. and I will do my best to answer them. I hope you enjoy your day trip walking around Overijse.

Want to know about more walks like this?

Add your email in the box below to get all new posts on Discovering Belgium straight in your inbox.