Pajottenland

Rolling land like a living painting

Pajottenland is not a place that immediately demands attention. No dramatic cliff faces, no iconic building. What you find here is quieter and at the same time much older: a landscape of gentle hills, sunken lanes, small roadside chapels and fields that change colour with the seasons. This is the land that Pieter Bruegel the Elder knew. You feel that connection as you drive around, somewhere between Gooik and Leerbeek, on an October morning with mist sitting in the hollows.

That mist is exactly what makes Pajottenland so special for landscape photography. In autumn, a low layer of mist often drifts across the valleys while the hilltops rise above it. A tree, a pollard willow, an abandoned cart in a meadow, they stand out sharply against the white. The light in those first hours after sunrise is soft and warm. Come early. Early here really means early, before seven o'clock.

Composition and focal points

The hills are never dramatic, but they are always present. That calls for considered compositions. Look for lines in the landscape: an unpaved track climbing a slope, a hedgerow that draws the eye into the frame, field edges that give rhythm. A telephoto lens, somewhere between 70mm and 200mm, works well for compressing those layers in the landscape together. A 35mm or 50mm is good for the intimacy of a sunken lane or a small chapel in the verge.

In spring the land turns soft green and rapeseed blooms here and there. The light is more unpredictable then, but the skies are more dramatic. Autumn is my preference: the colours of the land are richer, the mist is more reliable, and fewer people are around.

Practical

The best way to explore Pajottenland is by car or bicycle. Parking is usually possible along small country roads, but watch out for narrow verges and farm vehicles. There are no access restrictions, but most of the land is privately owned, so stick to the roads and paths. Gooik is a good starting point. Regionaal Landschap Pajottenland en Zennevallei manages the area and has walking routes that take you past the finest viewpoints.

Sources and further reading

• Regionaal Landschap Pajottenland & Zennevallei
• Toerisme Vlaams-Brabant
• Wikipedia: Pajottenland