Hiking in Hoge Kempen National Park Pietersheim trail (purple)
Good to know – in this area, large grazing livestock help with nature conservation. That is the reason why dogs, exceptionally, are not allowed here.
Pietersheim - purple - 11.2 km
Start
Start: La Butte aux Bois
Our hiking trail begins at the lush La Butte aux Bois. On this sprawling estate, we find a luxurious hotel, a top-rated gourmet restaurant and a cosy bistro. It also serves as a starting point for the Pietersheim hiking area, one of the southern sections of the Hoge Kempen National Park. Let the adventure begin!
Cemetery at the Rekem Psychiatric Care Centre (OPZ)
The route first takes us through the Isaekshoef Forest, where a strange sight awaits us. In between the trees, we can see little white crosses marking the graves in a mystical and deserted cemetery. Between 1921 and 1981, this site served as a cemetery for patients of what was then the psychiatric hospital in Rekem. Next to the cemetery is the Isaekshoef natural burial ground. People who wish to be buried in a natural setting can find their final resting place here. The current Rekem Public Psychiatric Care Centre is located very nearby. Are you coming by public transport? If so, your adventure will start here, at the OPZ Rekem bus stop.
Erratic boulder
A little further on, we come across a striking, enormous boulder, which was unearthed at some time in a nearby gravel pit. It's a great example of an erratic boulder, so-called because where it was found is a long way from its place of origin. The boulders in the national park originally come from the Belgian Ardennes and were transported here by water and ice during the Ice Ages.
Aspermans Pond and Brasserie Aspermans
Our walk continues along a long, tree-lined path that leads to the Aspermans Pond. We'll sit down on a bench for a while to catch our breath while enjoying a beautiful view of the water. This pond is a reminder of times long past. At one time, numerous fish ponds were built here to raise carp. Starting in the second half of the 20th century, those pond complexes gradually disappeared. Nevertheless, we can still recognise a few remaining bodies of water in the landscape, such as the Juffrouwenvijver, the Sluisvijver, the Gaarvijver complex and the marsh known as the Slaaphuis complex. Is it time for a break? Brasserie Aspermans is a great place to grab a bite to eat and a drink.
Ziepbeek Valley
Most of this hiking adventure takes place through and around the Ziepbeek Valley. This nature reserve consists of wet heathland at the foot of the steep edge of the Kempen Plateau. Groundwater flowing from the Kempen Plateau collects here in ditches and small waterways. That water flows into the Meuse via the Ziepbeek, just a stone's throw from this walking route.
Finish: La Butte aux Bois
You're now entering the final hundreds of metres of your hike through the Ziepbeek Valley. On reaching the Droogmeervijver, we walk past one final pond. Contrary to what its name suggests, it hasn't dried up at all. After that, we're back where we started, at the La Butte Aux Bois entry point. We've come full circle and our adventure is complete.
Finish
Top 10 Trails
Hoge Kempen National Park offers endless opportunities for hiking, as the 10 Top Trails in this park clearly show. These trails meet strict quality standards in terms of landscape diversity, nature, cultural heritage, and infrastructure. Each of these circular hikes proudly carries the European quality label Leading Quality Trail – Best of Europe, Day Walk, awarded by the European Hiking Federation. Well worth exploring!
