Pelt (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Next year, Natuurpunt and Sint Oda will build a wheelchair-accessible path in Lindelsbos, Overpelt, for people with disabilities. The €100,000 project opens in May 2026.
As VRT News reported, next year, Natuurpunt will build a wheelchair-accessible path in the Lindelsbos forest in Overpelt (Pelt). The path will allow people with disabilities and limited mobility to explore the forest safely.
“It’s currently very difficult for our residents to leave our grounds and enjoy nature,”
says Sint Oda director Stin Paesmans.
“That’s why we’re so pleased with this project: it significantly expands our residents’ living environment.”
What wheelchair-accessible trails will Natuurpunt and Sint Oda build in Lindelsbos Pelt?
According to officials, the trail will run through over a hectare of open dune landscape. The path will gently slope to the top of an inland dune, offering panoramic views of the forest and flower-filled meadows. They mentioned that along the way, rest areas and meeting points will allow visitors to pause and enjoy the scenery. The project has been designed with both accessibility and calm in mind.
Staff at Sint Oda, including occupational therapist In Vandeurzen, said they are excited about the new trail. They added that it will help people who use wheelchairs or need extra support experience nature safely and independently.
“In the past, if we wanted to walk with residents, we had to make dangerous trips through busy streets or take an hour-long bus ride to find a quiet place to walk,”
says movement therapist Nick Martinez Ferrez.
“Fresh air and contact with nature are crucial for health. With this project, we can finally offer our residents that experience nearby. We fully support it.”
The new wheelchair-accessible path in the Lindelsbos forest is a joint project by Sint Oda, Natuurpunt Pelt, local schools, and the municipality of Pelt. They mentioned that the project focuses on making the forest accessible for people with disabilities and limited mobility. It also aims to restore the natural landscape.
“This is the final piece that completes the Lindelsbos,”
says Eddy Conjaerts of Natuurpunt Pelt.
“We’re bringing accessibility and nature restoration together. This creates a diverse landscape full of life and experiences.”
Flemish Minister of Environment and Agriculture Jo Brouns (CD&V) said the Agency for Nature and Forests will invest €100,000 in the project through the “Nature in your neighbourhood” subsidy. The money will fund both the accessible paths and the ecological restoration. If everything goes according to plan, the new walking paths will open to residents and visitors in May 2026.
“It’s a wonderful and necessary project. It links biodiversity to the healthcare needs of our residents,”
says Brouns.
“Healthcare takes care of nature, and nature takes care of healthcare.”
In Flanders, similar projects have occurred. In 2019, Natuurpunt built wheelchair paths in the Kalmthoutse Heide, including raised boardwalks and rest areas. In 2021, the Sonian Forest added accessible trails and viewpoints.
