Interurban Trail: Belgium to Oostburg

The Interurban Trail connects the villages of Belgium and Oostburg. From Belgium, the trail goes 8.6 miles to its northern terminus on the south side of Oostburg. A bike route on village streets travels in Oostburg one more mile to Veterans Park, which serves as a trailhead. Trail-goers may expect charming views of a rural landscape on their ride. The scenery is mainly farmland, forests, and wetlands. The trail also passes through Cedar Grove.

This section of the Interurban Trail is very straight, and gently descends from Belgium to Oostburg. The path surface is paved, and in very good condition. Despite its rural location this part of the Interurban Trail sees plenty of activity, especially on summer weekends.

The Interurban Trail heads north from Belgium in Ozaukee Couty. This area was once inhabited by the Menominee Nation, who surrendered land to the U.S. Government in an 1832 treaty. Fifteen years later, immigrants from Luxembourg began settling here, eager to farm the rich soil. The advent of the railroad contributed further to Belgium’s growth.

There is a paradox to the name of Belgium and the Kewaunee County village of Luxembourg. In 1857, “Luxembourg” was submitted to the U.S. Postal Service by its citizens. At the same time, Belgian Americans further north submitted “Belgium” as the name for their town. Due to a clerical error, the names were switched. “Belgium” was given to the Luxembourg-American settlement, and “Luxemburg” issued to the Belgian-American community.

Today, the village of Belgium maintains strong ties with the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Members of the royal family have visited, and the Luxembourg Government sponsors a Luxembourg American Cultural Society and Museum. The center promotes Luxembourg culture and traditions through its museum, annual cultural festival, and other activities.

Returning to the Interurban Trail, there is no established trailhead in Belgium. Street parking and trail amenities are found on both sides of County Highway D (Main Street) in the downtown area. The south side of the street has a bench and self-service bicycle repair station. The north side has an information kiosk and more benches.

Another trailhead option is Community Park, just 0.2 mile east of the trail on Main Street. It has drinking water, public restrooms, a picnic shelter, concession stand, and athletic fields.

To reach Community Park from Interstate Highway 43, take exit 107 and go west 1.2 miles on County Highway D (Main Street). The park is on the right (north) side of the street. It is another 350 yards west to the trail intersection. Belgium has a few restaurants, taverns, and convenience stores to meet the needs of visiting trail-goers. There also is a small hotel.

From Belgium, the Interurban Trail travels north through rural countryside. It is one mile from Main Street to Silver Beach Road. The next intersection is Jay Road, a mile down the path. Within this mile and to the right (east) is the Belgium Waterfowl Production Area. The nature reserve is part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Leopold Wetland Management District. The land is managed to protect habitat for waterfowl and other wetland species.

The Interurban Trail goes north another mile to County Highway K. In this section, the path travels by Cedar Grove Waterfowl Production Area. After crossing the road, the trail enters Sheboygan County. It’s another mile past farm fields and wetlands to County Highway RR.

After the trail passes under the county highway, signs of Cedar Grove appear. A pond is seen to the left (west) and neighborhoods emerge. The Union Pacific Railroad’s line can  be seen over much of the trail’s distance. It parallels the path to the left (west) for 11 miles.

From County Highway RR, it is 1.2 miles to the Cedar Grove trailhead. Along the way, the path crosses Main Street, follows Commerce Street, and crosses Wisconsin State Highway 32. The trailhead has a parking lot, portable toilet, information kiosk, benches, and a  picnic table. The shelter has interpretive panels on the history of Cedar Grove.

Take exit 113 from Interstate Highway 43 to access Cedar Grove’s trailhead by car. Drive west on Wisconsin State Highway 32 for one mile, and turn right (north) into the parking lot.

Cedar Grove was originally located on the shores of Lake Michigan. Native Americans lived and fished in this area for years before white settlers arrived. The village was settled by Dutch immigrants in the mid-1840s, and a post office has been operating here since 1849. The village was named from groves of cedar near the town site. Cedar Grove moved to its current location so it would be located on the railway line when it came through the area.

In 1847, a group of Dutch immigrants coming to Cedar Grove met with disaster. Five miles from their goal, in Sheboygan, a fire broke out aboard the steamship Phoenix. While lifeboats took some passengers to land, the ship was completely consumed by flames and burned to the waterline. About 200 people perished, many of them Dutch immigrants.

Today Cedar Grove has a few restaurants, taverns, and convenience stores. The village has an attractive Memorial Park, home to their annual Holland Festival. The park is also home to a Dutch windmill named “De Visch” (the fish). This 41-foot structure was built in 1968, and is a scale model of a “Stellingmolen” or “Tower Mill” found in many Dutch cities.

From Cedar Grove, the Interurban Trail continues north. A border of trees and brush lines the trail, often limiting views. It is one mile to Smies Road. From there, it is a half mile to Walvoord Road, and 0.8 mile to Hoftiezer Road. A memorial to trail-goer Harold Helmer is at mile marker 34. It is 0.8 mile from Hoftiezer Road to the trail’s end on De Master Road.

An information kiosk and park benches are at the end of the Interurban Trail in Oostburg. No parking is available. To reach Veterans Park, which serves as trailhead, cyclists turn right (east) on De Master Road and go 0.2 mile. The bike route turns left (north) on County Highway A (10th Street) and goes for a half mile to County Highway AA (Center Street).

After crossing Center Street and railroad tracks, the bike route continues north on 10th Street for a block. It passes a bakery and historical marker. The route then turns left (west) on Park Avenue, and goes one block to Veterans Park.

Veterans Park has a parking area, restrooms with flush toilets, drinking water, benches, picnic tables, covered shelter, and playgrounds. It also has a covered shelter, bandstand, gazebo, tennis and sand volleyball courts, and a baseball diamond.

Oostburg’s Veterans Park is accessed by car from Interstate Highway 43. From exit 116, drive west on County Highway AA for 1.4 miles. Turn right (north) on 11th Street. After a block, turn left (west) on Park Avenue to arrive at the park.

Oostburg was settled by Dutch immigrants in the mid-1840s. The village was incorporated in 1910, and named after the city in the Netherlands. Similar to Cedar Grove, Oostburg originated in a different spot, then moved to be on the approaching railroad line. Oostburg has restaurants, convenience stores, gas stations, and a grocery store.

The Interurban Trail from Belgium to Oostburg offers an easy, pleasant ride in a tranquil setting. Though it is the most rural section of the trail, it is still popular with cyclists and pedestrians, especially on summer weekends.

Trail last ridden and documented in August, 2025.

^{Map of trailheads and addresses along this section of the trail.}