This Halloween, reconnect with Tervuren’s ancient Celtic heritage on a free guided walk through the Tervuren Arboretum. On Sunday, November 2, 2025, from 13:30 to 16:30, the Sonian Forest Nature Group (NGZ) invites you to explore the Ogham Celtic tree alphabet .

The walk provides the perfect context to learn about the Ogham alphabet, a unique writing system based on trees and plants. Though its exact origins are debated, it is believed by many to have emerged in 4th-century settlements in West Wales. Here, it was influenced by Romanized Britons familiar with the Latin script, as evidenced by bilingual Ogham stones found in Wales that are inscribed in both Irish and British Latin.

This free Arboretum walk is a great opportunity to explore the connection between language, nature, and history in the heart of Tervuren.

While Tervuren’s name may be medieval Dutch, the area’s deeper Celtic history is still evident in its streams and villages. The brook known as the Voer, which gives its name to streets like Voerweg, almost certainly reflects the Gaulish root uer- or vor-, meaning “water, stream.” This is the same root found in the word for whiskey. Similarly, the hamlets of Moorsel (mori- “marsh” + selo- “dwelling”) and Duisburg (dubra “water”) also hint at our rich Celtic past.

Event Details and Tickets

For more information and to get your free tickets for this unique guided walk, visit ngz.be.

Join Natuurgroepering Zoniënwoud to uncover the ancient stories written in the landscape and celebrate the Celtic legacy that continues to shape our region.

Read our exclusive interview with Arboretum’s forest ranger Kevin Knevels by Tervuren+’s Jasmin Kohl.

Tervuren echoes to the sound of hunting horns and hoof beats on Sunday 26 October, as the Brotherhood of Saint Hubert stages its annual celebration and procession in honor of the patron saint of hunters, animals and nature.

The event is among Belgium’s oldest local religious traditions and highlights Tervuren’s centuries-old bond with Saint Hubert – a connection stretching back more than a thousand years. Legend has it that the saint once owned land in Tervuren and may even have died here. His legacy endures in the 17th-century Saint Hubert Chapel in Warande Park and through the Brotherhood founded in 1605.

This year’s celebrations begin at 10:30 with a solemn Mass at Saint John’s Church, accompanied by the Saint Cecilia Choir and the Royal Antwerp Hunting Horn Circle. Around 11:45, riders and horse-drawn carriages will depart from the Africa Palace, joined by local dog clubs featuring breeds such as the Tervuren Shepherd, Schnauzer and Pinscher. The procession winds through the historic town center towards the Saint Hubert Chapel, where horses, dogs and other pets receive individual blessings.

Along the route, local scouts distribute small blessed rolls – a centuries-old custom said to protect residents from rabies. The celebration ends with a disply of game, including culled boars, a flourish of hunting horns and greetings from local dignitaries, including the mayor.

Tervuren’s devotion to Saint Hubert has weathered many challenges. The last major procession before the French Revolution took place in 1795, after which religious gatherings were banned under French rule. The tradition only returned following Napoleon’s Concordat of 1802, which restored freedom of worship.

More recent years have brought their own trials. In 1992, strong winds forced police to close the Warande Park, and riders and their dogs were blessed instead at Saint John’s Church. In 2020, the pandemic restricted celebrations to a small Mass with just a few horn players.

Looking ahead, the Brotherhood will have to soon start preparing for a landmark year. In 2027, Tervuren will mark the 1,300th anniversary of Saint Hubert’s death, hopefully with a series of special events that could include parades, concerts and fireworks.

Visitors are warmly invited to join Sunday’s festivities, which coincide with a local fair on the Market Square. More information and a century of photographs can be found at www.sinthubertustervuren.be.

By Dafydd ab Iago. © Article and photos licensed © 2025 for Tervuren+ under CC BY-SA 4.0.

The Fietsbieb will celebrate five years on 18 October. Many Tervurenaars have donated their children’s outgrown bikes to support the initiative. The next Fietsbieb opening is Saturday 18 October, from 10:00 to 12:00.

Tervuren’s child bike library first opened in October 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. For €20 a year, families can borrow a checked, second-hand children’s bike, and exchange it as their children grow.

The remaining 2025 opening dates are 18 October (fifth anniversary), 15 November, and **20 December**. Run entirely by volunteers, the Fietsbiebs source, refurbish, and manage bicycles while supporting sustainable mobility in the community.

Fietsbieb operates from a shed at School van Tervurendreef, next to the town’s Speelbieb toy lending library. Open Wednesdays 14:00–16:00 and Saturdays 10:00–12:00, the Speelbieb lends puzzles, games, outdoor toys, and baby equipment for children up to 12 years old.

“From a social perspective, this is a fantastic concept,” said Lut Kint, former alderwoman for social affairs.

More Information

• Fietsbieb Tervuren official page
• Fietsbieb Tervuren on Facebook
• Speelbieb Tervuren official page
• Speelbieb Tervuren on Facebook

By Dafydd ab Iago. © Article and photos licensed © 2025 for Tervuren+ under CC BY-SA 4.0.

“We work with the energy of the dream — we play the dream,” says Els Schuerman of Zeeën, the organisation behind the sessions.

Rather than dissecting dreams from a distance, participants step right into them. They re-enact scenes and respond to questions that help them move further.

“In ordinary life we constantly have to adapt,” says Schuerman. “But in dreams, anything goes. That’s what makes them so extraordinarily creative.”

Dreams of inner knowing

The method, often called “playing the dream”, is less about theory than about experience. Participants act out scenes from their dreams, while others look on without judgment. Sometimes, those watching even take on a role in the dream.

Followers say the method can expose hidden patterns. Some dreams jump abruptly from one scene to another, which may point to forgotten traits or recurring behaviours. Others unfold with a beginning, middle and end — what Schuerman calls “dreams of inner knowing”, which often carry insights or warnings.

“It moves me every time to see what this work does for people,” she says. “There is so much wisdom in our dreams.”

For Schuerman, dreamwork is personal. “I’ve been seeking answers in my own dreams for years,” she says. “They warn me, set me back on track, help me make decisions. We are not just rational beings, but also emotion, energy — and quite simply, body.”

Schuerman trained in the Netherlands at ITIP’s Dream Training, with Bas Klinkhamer and Nanske Kuiken. Klinkhamer has worked with dreams for more than forty years and has written several books, including Dreams and Nightmares. Schuerman has also studied experiential learning, process guidance and bodywork focused on emotions.

“I’m not a therapist,” she stresses. “If necessary, I happily refer people to professional help. But dreamwork is a powerful way to connect with what lives deep inside us.”

The six Dream Portals sessions are offered in Dutch and begin on Saturday 4 October at 10am. There’s a short theoretical introduction, but the emphasis is on practice. “Anyone who understands Dutch can join, and of course they can tell their dream in English if they prefer.”

The other workshops at www.zee-en.be combine meditation, creative exercises and group reflection.

The cultural association organizes the annual braderie with support from local groups and the town hall.

Reuzenvereniging Tervuren now focuses on promoting folklore and strengthening ties with organizations such as the Heemkundige Kring.

Pie, Wanne and Jomme

At the heart of the festivities are the giants Pie, Wanne and their son, Jomme. Created in 1951, Pie and Wanne recall Tervuren residents returning from the Leuven fair during the interwar period.

Pie, 3.1 meters tall and 51 kilograms, carries meat over his shoulder. Wanne, slightly heavier at 56 kilograms, bears a basket of produce. Their son Jomme, introduced in 1975, stands 2.6 meters and weighs 48 kilograms.

Founded in 1948 as the Feestcomiteit der Reuzen, the group celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2023 with a new logo and flag, officially unveiled by then-Mayor Marc Charlier.

The Giants are woven into the very fabric of Flanders’ cultural history, and in Tervuren their presence feels especially alive. For generations, the towering figures have paraded through the streets, turning summer days into moments of shared wonder and festivity.

This year, the Giants Festival once again transformed the Markt into a stage of music, laughter, and spectacle, drawing both locals and visitors into the celebration. Backed by the town’s financial and logistical support, the Giants continue to stand tall — symbols of tradition, community, and joy.

To support village activities, committees in Duisburg, Vossem and Moorsel will see their basic grants doubled from €4,788 to €9,576.

Recognized Tervuren associations can apply for the subsidies by Oct. 31 if they lower membership fees for low-income families and/or actively promote the use of Dutch. Eligible organizations must also meet conditions such as providing member insurance, committing to a “harmonious Tervuren” and acknowledging the town’s Dutch-speaking character.

“We note that in many associations—among members, supervisors, monitors and parents—Dutch is still spoken infrequently,” said Alderwoman for Flemish Character Annemie Spaas (N-VA), who is married to former Tervuren mayor and current Flemish Brabant governor Jan Spooren (N-VA). Spaas highlighted that 54.3 percent of children and young people in Tervuren are of non-Belgian origin, and that nearly 68 percent of mothers speak a language other than Dutch with their babies at home.

Jan Trappeniers (CD&V, Voor Tervuren) stressed that the measures remain voluntary. “We’re not forcing anyone to do anything—we’re offering support, because the need is there,” he said. Possible actions under the subsidies include taalafsprakennota’s in which clubs set their own rules for how Dutch is to be used and promoted by coaches and members.

Focus on Community Building

“As you know, this majority is committed to further strengthening community ties in our municipality,” said Bram Bartholemees (OpenVLD, Voor Tervuren), who was appointed in June as alderman for Tourism, Events and Community Life. “Connection is our key to bringing more vibrancy to Tervuren,” added Bartholemees, who also serves as headmaster of the Royal Atheneum Tervuren (KAT).

The measure was adopted by all Flemish parties, including Groen+Vooruit. Councillor Serge Liesenborghs (Tervuren Unie+Volt) cast the sole vote against.

“A sports manager should encourage members to play more and attract new people to the club. But they should not be burdened with all these other objectives,” he argued. Liesenborghs warned that concern for Dutch should not become a “compulsive obsession.”

That remark drew immediate rebuttal from Ralph Packet, chair of N-VA Tervuren. “There’s only one councillor here obsessed with undermining the Dutch-speaking character of our municipality,” said Packet. He accused Liesenborghs of trying to import “multicultural” Brussels politicies to Tervuren. “We’ve seen what a disaster that is,” added Packet, a former MP and now an official at the European Parliament.

“There’s no need to raise your voice, Ralph,” responded council chair Mario Van Rossum (CD&V, Voor Tervuren). Van Rossum has served on the council since 1994 and also works as an adviser to local authorities under Governor Spooren.

The aim is for Tervuren to reduce its annual per capita residual waste from approximately 126 kilograms to 83 kilograms by 2030. Weighing waste apparently helped neighbors Huldenberg and Bertem meet or exceed their targets.

“Tervuren will have to reduce its annual per capita residual waste from around 126 kg to 83 kg by 2030.”

Currently, the sale of brown bags covers less than 60% of Interrand’s waste management costs. The new system could shift those extra expenses toward households that produce more waste. And that before Belgium starts charging for CO₂ emissions from incinerated residual waste from 2028

Shift expenses to wasteful households

In addition to variable pricing according to weight, Tervuren will introduce a fixed annual fee for garbage collection. Local politicians Jan Trappeniers, Lut Kint, and Elmo Peeters, all appointed to Interrand’s board. That was after a hectic late night town council session to nominate board posts, some worth over €200 per meeting.

🧾 Tariffs at Recyclagepark Tervuren

• 💳 Payment: Bancontact preferred; cash accepted at Tervuren office.
• 📦 Bulky waste: Charged between €5 and €30 depending on type.
• 🎟️ Free visits: Still valid even when mixed with paid waste types.
• 🔗 View full tariff details

📅 Waste Collection Calendar

• 🚛 Types collected: Restafval, GFT, PMD, paper/cardboard, bulky waste (on request).
• ⏰ Timing: Place bins outside after 8 p.m. the night before in Tervuren. Collection starts at 7 a.m. (6 a.m. in summer).
• 📱 App: Download the Recycle! app for Android and Apple to get reminders and schedules.
• 🔗 Check your collection calendar

Article and photos by Dafydd ab Iago for Tervuren+, licensed under the Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International licence.

Tervuren is replacing its old flat-rate waste collection system with a new model that requires residents to pay in three ways: container rental, how often their container is emptied and the weight of their waste.

The new system uses special containers equipped with a chip that registers each collection and measures the waste’s weight. The charges are as follows:

Rental Fee: A monthly fee for using the containers. A 40-liter container costs €0.70 a month, while a 240-liter container costs €1.40 a month.
Emptying Fee: A per-collection fee. For a 40-liter container, the fee is €0.65 for residual waste and €1.30 for a 240-liter container.
Processing Fee: A charge based on the waste's weight. Residents will pay €0.32 per kilogram for residual waste and €0.16 per kilogram for organic waste.