The Nieuwkerk estate originated in the early 19th century, but Tongerlo Abbey already owned a farm here in the 13th century. The name Nieuwkerk comes from "de nyeuwe kerck van dije van Tilborch" or the frontier church of the Tilburgers. Landgoed de Hoevens is a private estate with grasslands, fields, hedgerows and avenues that, together with monumental farm buildings, including a Flemish barn, form a Kempen bocage landscape. Some remains of burial mounds have also been discovered, proof that people have already lived here in the Bronze Age. The Ooijevaarsnest is a varied landscape with marshy meadows and wooded areas. The area takes its name from the stork's nest that stands on an authentic thatched large barn, the barn was originally built as a sheepfold. Halve Maan is a wooded area with a beautiful fen, called the Halve Maan from which this part of the forest gets its name. Almost at the end of the hike you pass the Nieuwkerk Naturentuin Goirle monastery, with a vegetable garden, herb garden, pond, greenhouse and many colorful borders.