Let the ErfgoedApp Decide: The Boomerang Tour for Endless Hiking Inspiration

If, like me (Maaike of the blog Ga eens Wandelen), you hike a lot and like to discover new places, you are probably also often on the lookout for new hiking routes. I often get inspiration from hiking maps, hiking apps and even from Instagram. That's why I was thrilled when I discovered the Boomerang tour from the Erfgoedapp . Because 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 the compass and select the Boomerang tour. Then choose between a short, medium, large or extra-large 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 extremely curious to see what hike the app has in store for me! Full of anticipation, I choose the medium-sized tour.

To my disappointment, the app only generates a route of about 2.5 km. Not really what I had in mind for medium, so I decide to throw the Boomerang again. This time perhaps a little too enthusiastically, as I am presented with a route of no less than 20 km. Now that's a little too much of a good thing.

In the end, I opt for the medium tour again and decide to make some extra detours along the way. With a view of the South Willems Canal, I set off on my walk. Let the exploration begin!

Although I know the region a bit, I am pleasantly surprised by the first kilometers of the route. Soon I pass a piece of heritage: the castle domain of Rekem. From 1921 until the 1980s, this was a State Psychiatric Institution. This area has now been completely converted into a cozy and unique residential neighborhood. What a beautiful discovery!

Through a passageway I enter the old part of town, where I am immediately showered with a dose of coziness. The historic houses feel like a trip back in time, and I am immediately taken by the unique ambiance of this place.

I notice a little later that the Boomerang tour is still under development. Part of the road is closed and even for pedestrians there is no way through. The app makes no mention of this. Fortunately, I had planned to take some detours anyway to make the route a little longer, so this actually works out well.

I wander a little further through the cozy streets and eventually arrive at the Groenplaats near the church. The pluses on the map in the app let me know that this is the Museum Church, an interesting stop on my route. An intimate street behind the church leads me to the edge of the village, where cozy eateries tempt me to take a seat on their terraces.

The tour through Oud Rekem was a fun one, but I prefer to walk in nature. So I try the Boomerang tour again the next day, this time in the green domain of Bokrijk.

I cast my Boomerang out on a hiking and biking trail on the edge of Bokrijk with Kiewit. Immediately I am presented with a nice loop hike of about 4.3 km. What strikes me is that, again, the app chooses the most obvious paths. That's certainly fine for an occasional hiker.

But for someone like me, who likes to go off the beaten path, there remains a bit of a longing for more adventure. Still, I thoroughly enjoy the walking route, which eventually 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.

And just to close, here's this!

• Without a doubt, the best thing about the Boomerang tour is the surprise effect. You never know what route you will get 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 nearby. This makes every walk a unique adventure.
• What I also love is that the map allows you to go back in time, even to the Ferraris maps. It's interesting to see what the area you're hiking in used to look like. This historical context adds an extra dimension to the experience.
• I have already tried the Boomerang tour in several places. While the app doesn't offer a perfect loop walk everywhere and sometimes has straight sections where you have to walk back and forth, I've found that if you walk a little further and request a new tour, you often do get a nice loop walk. This little experimentation just makes the Boomerang tour 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 continually improve the feature. So if you try out the tour yourself and have any comments, let the Erfgoedapp know.
• Last but not least, the app is completely free, with no hidden fees. Moreover, the feature would also work abroad, something I definitely want to try out.

Thanks to the Boomerang tour, I've already gained some walking inspiration, and I'm looking forward to discovering more hidden gems. So, what are you waiting for? Throw out that Boomerang and be surprised!

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A post shared by Maaike 🙋🏼‍♀️ & Thorvi & Alfie 🐾 / hiking, outdoor life (@ga_eens_walking)