I was a little too late but spot the deer. 
Todays hiking trail 
Ferns with many hidden (and ruined) spiderwebs (apologies to Araneus diadematus, cross spiders) 
Bufo bufo, common toad 
Known landmark in the area: Doel Nuclear Power Station 
Empty fen 
Empty fen #2 
Silver-studded Blue (in Dutch we call them: Heideblauwtjes, small heatherblues) 
Empty fen #3 
large grazers (usually galloways, but also sheep and goats) are blocking my trail and forcing me to leave the trail. 
Still checking me out. But I will never scare them or chase them to continue my path. They also deserve some peace and quiet especially since they only have trees to cover from the excessive heat. 
Luckily it is 1 July or my detour was even longer and more exposed to the sun. 
GR5 
Black Mound, locally known by the French (aristocratic) Mont Noir is a standalone trail and not directly situated at a parking. You can combine it with Sheep trail or if you are brave enough Roe Deer. No dogs allowed since large grazers.
The area used to be private property.
Back in the day, when you have money you could buy a plot wherever you wanted. The park did provide (read: sell) many of their dunes for the construction of Antwerp Central Station and track bed. The first Antwerp train station was built just after Belgian independence. The current, iconic building is actually the third construction on the spot and opened in 1905. The park did have a brasserie in the middle to provide for the workers.
The trail refers to a plot of land that was traditionally known as Black Mound, in Dutch.
Initially a local farmer bought 6 hectares. In 1858 half of the plot was sold to a farmer of neighboring village Kapellen who subsequently sold it to a Brussels industrialist Firmin Mignot in 1883. During a world expo (supposedly the Romanian pavilion, a wooden chalet) was bought, moved over and renamed to Mont Noir (in French, the elite’s language). He also mined the heathlands, built lanes and a pond + pool. Only remnants are the pillars on the driveway.
The lion statues moved to another estate near the visitor center.
In 1895 the estate was owned by Meurisse, still a well known Belgian chocolate manufacturer. After two more owners came and went, Bernhard Bernsohn-Stern, an Antwerp diamond merchant bought the place.
The reason it changed ownership quite often is accessibility: about an hour away from either Kalmthout or Heide train stations. Perhaps not so much a problem when conditions are favorable. Bernsohn-Stern planned a tramway in 1910 so his guests (and of course his family, their groceries, etc) could more easily reach his estate.
In his second request a year later, which included touristic and local economic importance enticed the municipality. By 1914 the railway was completed. You will certainly recognize the year as the start of the Great War. The project was almost immediately dismantled and most probably deployed in West Flanders.
The good news of this all is that Bernsohn-Stern’s plans to built a recreation park were halted. Only the pillars and ponds remain.
Interesting trail steeped in history. Unfortunately it was cut short as large grazers were hiding from the sun and chose to block my route. I will certainly do this route again but highly likely in winter. The ferns and woodlands were not overgrown but the paths were covered in cobwebs. I was the first one to hike the trail today for sure. I had many close encounters with the European garden spider. Another item on my to do list is to learn about or immediately spot the difference between a horsefly and a cicada. I was amazed at the amount of (annoying) insects. I would actually have expected to see a lot more birds…
There were no other routes available and I missed the pillars. On the pic above you can see the ponds in the middle.
Celtic Belgae 