Limburg, Flanders’s greenest province, offers a wealth of nature. From vast forests and heathlands to rolling landscapes and picturesque river valleys – Limburg’s nature reserves are all gems where you can unwind, recharge your batteries, and experience plenty of adventures. Join us on a journey through the nature reserves of Limburg.

Hoge Kempen National Park

The Hoge Kempen National Park is a vast nature reserve in eastern Limburg. The park comprises more than 12,000 hectares of forests, moors, fens, and sand flats, where visitors can experience an impressive biodiversity.

With as many as ten sub-areas, you can endlessly explore this mix of nature. The diverse landscapes and well-marked routes make the Hoge Kempen National Park a paradise for nature lovers and adventurers.

The different gateways:

  • Bergerven: a former gravel extraction site between Maaseik and Dilsen-Stokkem
  • Duinengordel: the northern edge of the Hoge Kempen National Park is home to heathlands, forests, and inland sand dunes
  • Kattevennen: wooded area in Genk
  • Lieteberg: woods and hayfields in Zutendaal
  • Mechelse Heide: vast heathland landscape in Maasmechelen
  • Munsterbos: on the border of the Hoge Kempen and Haspengouw
  • Pietersheim: woods and meadows in Lanaken
  • As Station: coniferous forests stand witness to the mining past
  • Terhills: main gateway to the National Park with a landscape of ‘mountains and lakes’
  • Thorpark: the former Waterschei mine with slag heaps amid heath and pine forests

Find out more about the Hoge Kempen National Park

Bosland National Park

The Bosland National Park is nestled in the middle of the Limburg Kempen region. It’s a mainly wooded area on the typical sandy soil of the north. The various sub-areas – spread across Lommel, Hechtel-Eksel, Pelt, and Peer – each offer a unique setting: the miniature Sahara Desert, the forests of the Pijnven, and the sandpit of In den Brand are just a few examples.

In this nature reserve, you’ll also discover the circular bridge of ‘Cycling through the Trees’.

Maas Valley River Park landscape park

The Maas forms the natural border with the Netherlands in the far east of Belgian Limburg. The erratic rain river creates wild, unusual nature along its banks. Maas Valley River Park is a cross-border landscape park where birds, large grazers, and herbs determine the main part of the flora and fauna.

Six Maas villages, from south to north along the Belgian side of the Maas, form the base for your tour of the park. A ferry crosses both the river and the border with the Netherlands, after which your walking or cycling tour continues seamlessly.

Find out more about the Maas Valley River Park

Heart of Haspengouw landscape park

Haspengouw, the fruit region in the balmy south of Limburg, is best known for its blossoms in spring, which turn into delicious, sweet fruit in summer and autumn. This cultural landscape consists of endless rows of orchards, fields, and meadows, as well as forests and creek valleys, each with a parish, historic town centre, castle, or farmhouse with an inner courtyard.

The landscape walks are the best way to explore the region on foot. These routes show you the region’s most beautiful spots. Among others, the see-through church Reading between the Lines and the floating chapel of Helsheaven are eye-catchers you absolutely must see.

Boundless Bocageland Landscape Park – Voer region

Boundless Bocageland Landscape Park includes the Walloon Land van Herve, the Dutch hill country, and our Limburg Voer region. The landscapes show striking similarities: a hilly green patchwork of meadows bordered by hedges, ancient forests, the typical ridges, sunken lanes, and standard orchards.

The Voer region is a green paradise where hikers, bon vivants, and those seeking peace and quiet will feel right at home.

Discover more about the Voer region

De Wijers

De Wijers is a huge pond area that spans central Limburg from Genk and Diepenbeek to Lummen. The area’s more magical name is ‘the land of 1001 ponds’. The nature is particularly valuable and is home to some rare species, such as the bittern and the tree frog.

Several gateways open the way to the idyllic landscape. Bokrijk is home to the ‘Cycling through the Water’ path. In addition to the ponds, the landscape also features plenty of heathland.

The different sub-areas:

  • Bokrijk-Kiewit
  • Bolderberg-Viversel
  • Dauteweyers – Dorpsbemden
  • De Maten
  • De Teut
  • Hengelhoef-Ten Haagdoorn
  • Herkenrode
  • Kelchterhoef
  • Platwijers

Find out more about De Wijers

GrensPark Kempen~Broek

The GrensPark Kempen~Broek is situated on the border of Limburg and the Dutch provinces of North Brabant and Limburg. On the Belgian side, you can trek into this nature reserve from Bocholt, Bree, Kinrooi, and Maaseik. GrensPark Kempen~Broek can proudly call itself the first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Belgium.

Nature unfolds like a mosaic, resulting in a very diverse landscape. Swamps, streams and their valleys, fens, and forests flow into heathland, hay meadows, pastures, and fields. Numerous rare flora and fauna make their home here. Few places in the Benelux are home to so many dragonfly species, and the beaver also returned a few years ago.

The different sub-areas:

  • De Kempen
  • Smeetshof-Wijffelterbroek
  • Stramprooierbroek
  • St. Maartensheide & De Luysen
  • Bosbeek Valley
  • Itterbeek Valley
  • Zig en Goort

More about GrensPark Kempen~Broek

De Groote Heide Nature Reserve

Tucked into the far north of Limburg is De Groote Heide, an area that straddles the border with the Netherlands and actually consists of a sum of several, smaller nature reserves. Start your tour in Hamont-Achel (Achelse Kluis and Beverbeekse Heide) or Pelt (Hageven) on the Belgian side.

Forest and heathland alternate with the region’s beautiful agricultural countryside as a backdrop in between. And don’t forget the water! It’s a common thread winding through the landscape. Stroll along the Dommel and the numerous streams and fens that characterise the landscape.

Zwarte Beek Valley

The source of the Zwarte Beek flows from Hechtel-Eksel and meanders through western Limburg via Houthalen-Helchteren, Beringen, Lummen, and Halen towards Diest. Hiking areas with multiple routes have been established at five locations along the river.

Meadows and fields colour the landscape on the flanks of the hills with button oaks and wooded borders. Peaty bogs, peat pits, and quaking bog steal the show in the wet valley, making this stream valley unique in Flanders. It’s a varied landscape waiting to be explored!

The five hiking areas:

Abeek Valley

The Abeek flows along the border of the Hoge Kempen and GrensPark Kempen~Broek. Abeek Valley runs through Bocholt, Oudsbergen, and Peer and is a fairly swampy area with forests, marshes, and hay meadows.

A small herd of Galloway cattle ‘manages’ the area. Who knows? You might even see them on your walk! There are 10 walking routes, including the mill route of over 20 km, which connects all the water mills in this area.

Between the Jeker and the Maas

In the south-east of Limburg lies a beautiful marl area enclosed between the Jeker and the Maas rivers. The Limburg starting point for your walk is Kanne, but the area extends all the way into Wallonia and the Netherlands.

The eroded valley of the Jeker provides an enchanting setting for your walking or cycling tour. The marl blocks mined from under the ground were used to build many houses in Kanne, which you can still encounter along the way. You will find rare limestone flora here, such as fairy flax and myrtle-leaf milkwort.

de Merode-Gerhagen

The Gerhagen Nature Reserve in Tessenderlo is the Limburg gateway to the Merode, a landscape park stretching mainly across the Flemish Brabant Hageland and the Antwerp Kempen. Gerhagen was the first Recognised Quiet Area in Flanders, and you can discover over 1,000 hectares of wooded nature here.