Discover Flanders' hidden natural gems

MEDIALIFE.BE

In Flanders, you will find more than 500 nature reserves, where you can walk and cycle for miles. One place you will enjoy walking or cycling is our magnificent parks. But as well as these parks, there is much natural beauty to be discovered elsewhere. We will show you seven of these hidden gems. Let’s go!

Zwin Nature Park: a landscape shaped by the rhythm of the tides

There’s certainly no fear of flying in the Zwin. This nature park in Knokke-Heist, on the Flemish coast, is renowned as an international airport for migratory birds. It has been a breeding ground and stopover on the migratory route of several different bird species since time immemorial. You will spot a great many feathered friends there. And there’s plenty to see at ground level too. The Zwin moves to the rhythm of the tides. Twice a day, the North Sea floods part of this area. As a result, the landscape appears ever-changing, as you can see for yourself on the tidal walk. And that’s just one of the many walking possibilities in the delightful Zwin.

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Westhoekreservaat: off the beaten track

We find our second hidden gem at the other end of our North Sea coast. The coastal tram takes you to De Panne. There, we find the Westhoekreservaat. This reserve features a beautifully varied landscape of dunes, beaches, forests, meadows and marshes. The Westhoek Walking Route will get you on your way for a wonderful walk. Would you like to turn that walk into an enterprise of epic proportions? Our previous natural gem the Zwin and this Westhoekreservaat are connected. They are linked by theStreek-GR Kust, an epic walk of no less than 103 kilometres. This walk takes you past all the assets of the Flemish coast over the course of a few days.

The Burreken: on foot through the mecca of cycling

From the Westhoek, we take a leap into the mecca of cycling. The Flemish Ardennes has long been the setting for our famous spring classics. But there are many walks to enjoy there as well. In Burreken, for example. This hilly area in Brakel is made up of a mix of vast forests, fertile fields, meadows and grasslands. More than enough to guarantee a marvellous walk. A little word of caution however: as cycling fans are sure to know, the slopes in the Flemish Ardennes can be very challenging.

Bjorn Snelders

National Park Scheldt Valley: a necklace of blue and green gems

At our next stop, we follow the mighty river Scheldt. It winds its way between Ghent and Antwerp like a stunning necklace of blue and green gems. The National Park Scheldt Valley offers a patchwork quilt of wetlands, lakes, marshes, picturesque villages, vast fields and the magnificent castles of the Scheldt. From one of the six entrance gates of this National Park, you embark upon a magnificent adventure. You can do so with a bicycle, on the towpath along the river, or via the extensive network of hiking trails.

Bjorn Snelders

Kalmthoutse Heide: a sea of purple, full of surprises

North of the bustling metropolis of Antwerp we find the Kalmthoutse Heide. No fewer than 28 signposted hiking trails take you past vast, unspoilt landscapes of heathland, fens, dunes, forests, meadows and polder. In the summer months, this is a particularly irresistible sight. Because then, the Kalmthoutse Heide is bedecked with heather, with its purple flowers. The landscape then transforms into a sea of purple full of surprises.

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De Wijers: The land of 1,001 ponds

What is called a ‘vijver’ (pond) in the rest of Flanders is known as a ‘wijer’ in this corner of the Belgian province of Limburg. So the name of this nature reserve is very apt. Welcome to De Wijers, the land of 1,001 ponds. Here you will discover a sparkling patchwork quilt of ponds and marshes surrounded by heather, forest and meadows. This makes it a paradise for people, plants and animals. Who knows, you might come across a bittern (a splendid heron) or a small tree frog here. Discover that wealth of fauna and flora from one of the eight gateways. It’s definitely worth a visit!

G.van Grinsven

The Haspengouw Green Spots: Sugar-sweet gems in the Limburg fruit region

A good meal always ends with dessert. And here too, we are finishing with something delicious. Because where does life taste sweeter than in Haspengouw? This part of Limburg is a fruit region unrivalled in Flanders. The undulating landscape filled with apple, pear and plum trees is a delightful region to explore on foot. There is still much hidden beauty there. The Haspengouw Greenspots are a wonderful reflection of this. These signposted walking routes take you past hidden and surprising greenery. Stroll among farmyards, weave your way on hills between orchards, catch a glimpse of marshes and ponds, and admire panoramas at a pilgrimage site. You can do it all, in hidden Haspengouw.

Koen De Langhe

And so we draw a delightful ribbon through Flanders. From an international airport for migratory birds to the challenging slopes of the Flemish Ardennes. Via a necklace of blue and green gems to a sea of purple full of surprises. Along 1,001 ponds in Limburg to the hidden delights of the fruit region. And that’s just a tip of the iceberg. Experience a wide range of micro-adventures with the whole family in Flanders’ many green nature reserves.