Waymarking

WAYMARKING

The basic trail markers in Belgium simply consist of two stripes: white or yellow at the top and red at the bottom. They are applied to fences, traffic signs, street lighting, posts, trees …

You will mainly find markers at forks and intersections where doubts could arise about the correct route. In such places, a cross sign is also used to point out which roads not to follow, while a turn sign indicates a change of direction.

Separate stickers were designed for a Variant route and an Approach route to train stations (see illustration).

Our volunteers have marked all GR trails both ways, so you can choose your direction freely.

At the start of a GR trail or where several trails intersect, you may find a “walking tree”. This is a wooden signpost that indicates the trails’ respective directions and distances.

The markers are solely maintained by volunteers in Flanders. Applying the white and red stripes is not as easy a chore as it may seem. Markers must be clearly visible, neat, aesthetically pleasing and uniformly applied, while not disturbing the landscape or causing damage to property or trees.

Each GR trail is checked at least twice a year to ensure that all markers are intact. Old paint or discoloured stickers are carefully removed before new markers take their place.