If, like me (Maaike from the blog Ga eens Wandelen), you enjoy walking and discovering new places, you are probably often looking for new walking routes. I often get inspiration from walking maps, walking apps, and even Instagram. That's why I was delighted when I Erfgoedapp the Boomerang tour on the Erfgoedapp . Within seconds, the app conjures up a personalized route, full of fascinating views and heritage sites. Starting a route is child's play: open the app, tap on the compass, and select the Boomerang tour. Then choose between a short, medium, long, or extra-long tour.
My first Boomerang tour in the most beautiful village in Flanders
And there I am, in the charming village of Rekem in Lanaken, ready to throw my first Boomerang. I am very curious to see what walk the app has in store for me! Full of anticipation, I choose the medium-length tour.
To my disappointment, the app only generates a route of about 2.5 km. Not really what I had in mind for medium-sized, so I decide to throw the Boomerang again. This time perhaps a little too enthusiastically, because I am presented with a route of no less than 20 km. That's a bit too much of a good thing.
In the end, I opt for the medium-length tour again and decide to take a few extra detours along the way. With a view of the Zuid-Willemsvaart canal, I set off on my walk. Let the journey of discovery begin!
Although I am somewhat familiar with the region, I am pleasantly surprised by the first few kilometers of the route. Soon I pass a piece of heritage: the castle grounds of Rekem. From 1921 until the 1980s, this was a state psychiatric institution. The area has now been completely renovated into a pleasant and unique residential neighborhood. What a wonderful discovery!
Through a passageway, I arrive in the old part of town, where I am immediately overwhelmed by a sense of conviviality. The historic houses feel like a journey back in time, and I am instantly captivated by the unique ambiance of this place.
photo copyright: Maaike from the blog Ga Eens Wandelen (Go for a Walk)
A little later, I notice that the Boomerang tour is still under development. Part of the road is closed, and even pedestrians cannot get through. The app does not mention this. Fortunately, I had already planned to take a few detours to make the route a little longer, so this actually works out well.
I wander a little further through the charming streets and eventually arrive at Groenplaats near the church. The plus signs on the map in the app tell me that this is the Museumkerk, an interesting stop on my route. An intimate street behind the church leads me to the edge of the village, where cozy cafés tempt me to take a seat on their terraces.
photo copyright: Maaike from the blog Ga Eens Wandelen (Go for a Walk)
The tour through Old Rekem was a nice walk, but I prefer walking in nature. That's why I try the Boomerang tour again the next day, this time in the green domain of Bokrijk.
I launch my Boomerang on a walking and cycling path on the edge of Bokrijk with Kiewit. Immediately, I am presented with a beautiful loop walk of about 4.3 km. What strikes me is that the app also chooses the most obvious paths here. That's certainly fine for an occasional walker.
But for someone like me, who likes to stray from the beaten track, there remains a slight desire for more adventure. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoy the walking route, which ultimately leads me past one of Genk's most famous spots: 'cycling through the water'. This time, however, it was 'walking through the water' for me.
photo copyright: Maaike from the blog Ga Eens Wandelen (Go for a Walk)
And to conclude, just this!
- The best thing about the Boomerang tour is undoubtedly the surprise effect. You never know which route you will be given and what you will encounter along the way. The algorithm takes you past interesting highlights, and the plus signs on the map tell you more about the heritage sites in the area. This makes every walk a unique adventure.
- What I also love is that you can use the map to go back in time, even as far back as the Ferraris maps. It's interesting to see what the area you're walking through used to look like. This historical context adds an extra dimension to the experience.
- I have already tried the Boomerang tour in various places. Although the app does not offer a perfect loop walk everywhere and sometimes includes straight sections where you have to walk back and forth, I have discovered that if you walk a little further and request a new tour, you often get a nice loop walk. This little experiment makes the Boomerang tour even more fun.
- The developers of the Boomerang tour are aware that the app is not yet perfect and are open to feedback. They use this input to continuously improve the feature. So if you try out the tour yourself and have any comments, please let the Erfgoedapp .
- Last but not least: the app is completely free, with no hidden costs. What's more, the feature also works abroad, which is something I definitely want to try out.
Thanks to the Boomerang tour, I've already gained some hiking inspiration, and I'm looking forward to discovering even more hidden gems. So, what are you waiting for? Throw that Boomerang and let yourself be surprised!
This blog appeared on the blog of Go for a walk. We were given permission to publish the blog here too :-). Read lots of other great walking stories on the blog Go for a walk