About Wandelen in Limburg
In the greenest province of Flanders, the quality and diversity of the landscape are unique.
Each region has its own identity: rolling fields and orchards in Haspengouw and Voeren, wild humid nature in the KempenBroek, vast heathlands in the Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen, picturesque villages in the Meuse valley, endless woodlands in the Nationaal Park Bosland to 1001 ponds in the Wijers. You can discover these regions via an extensive network of high-quality walking areas, including several loops of various distances that you can easily combine.
The creation of the many beautiful walking trails is due to cross-border collaboration between many partners, such as the Limburg municipalities, the neighboring Belgian and Dutch provinces, nature associations, tourist offices, authorities, maintenance teams, private partners, and many others. Well-maintained trails are essential to keep Limburg as a walking paradise. That is why regular maintenance and well-coordinated management are necessary.
This task is fulfilled by the Limburg landscape teams. These workers, coming from sheltered workshops, contribute daily to landscape management in Limburg and play a crucial role in the maintenance of the trails that make the province an attractive green destination.
'Wandelen in Limburg' is the result of the collaboration between the Regionaal Landschap Lage Kempen, the Regionaal Landschap Haspengouw en Voeren, the Regionaal Landschap Kempen en Maasland, and Visit Limburg.
Discover the regions of Limburg
De Wijers
Land of 1001 Ponds
In the heart of Limburg lies a unique natural paradise with over 1,000 hidden ponds: De Wijers. De Wijers is a refuge for rare plants and animals, combining exceptional nature with majestic heritage sites and adventurous activities for young and old. It is this combination of nature, landscape, and culture that makes De Wijers so unique.
The distinctive patchwork of ponds in De Wijers originated from fish farming. First by monks, then by commercial fish farmers. The majestic site of the Abbey of Herkenrode also left its mark on the region. Just like the impressive castles, historic parks, and the peaceful Chapel of Bolderberg, this place invites you to total relaxation.
Prefer more action? De Wijers offers a wide range of child-friendly parks, full of adventures for young and old alike. Or climb the observation tower for a spectacular view of the ponds. And of course, water sports are not left out. Curious? The gateways welcome you with open arms and guide you through the region.
Immerse yourself in this land of 1001 ponds.
Tip: Don’t forget your binoculars! Or slip inside one of the many bird hides and observe a multitude of water birds. The numerous ponds are also magnificent to admire from the Zonhoven vantage point.
Border Park Jeker & Meuse
Deeply connected
Between the historically related cities of Maastricht, Liège and Tongeren lies Border Park Jeker & Meuse, where you can stroll carefree through a fascinating landscape. Sint-Pietersberg forms the heart of this area. For centuries, people sawed blocks of limestone from this hill. These found their way into castles, but also into the houses of the nearby villages. This created a mysterious network of tunnels.
Wild herbs and flowers grow on the sunny slopes, with copses and orchards dotted here and there, and fertile fields on the plateaus that have fed countless generations. Here you can experience how nature and human activity together create a unique landscape.
Hesbaye
The south of Limburg is sometimes called the Tuscany of the north. And this is not without reason. Rolling fields, flowered roadside verges, tall-stemmed fruit trees, and beautiful stream valleys characterize the landscape of Hesbaye. From its rich past, many visible traces remain such as the roman burial mounds, the Roman road, the old fruit trail, Romanesque churches and chapels, imposing castles, and farmsteads.
In Hesbaye, variety is guaranteed. The scenic walks take you to the most beautiful places in the region. Sometimes, you descend into the valley, the woodland, the orchard, or a holloway and enjoy the intimacy of the landscape. Other times, you walk on the plateau along the fields and it is the panoramas that amaze you. Along the way, you pass through villages where time seems to have stopped.
City life can be found in Saint-Trond and Tongres-Borgloon. For those who have time, a visit to the Gallo-Roman Museum of Tongres or to the tower of the Abbey of Saint-Trond is certainly worthwhile. Or stop for a moment at the domain of the Grand Commandery Alden Biesen in Bilzen-Hoeselt or at the syrup factory of Tongres-Borgloon. There is so much to experience in Hesbaye!
Hoge Kempen
Hoge Kempen is best known for its namesake Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen.
This natural area of 12,700 ha stretches across the municipalities of As, Bilzen, Bree, Dilsen-Stokkem, Genk, Lanaken, Maaseik, Maasmechelen, Oudsbergen and Zutendaal.
Vast pine forests alternate here with blooming purple heathland, wind-swept dunes and shimmering vennes, large ponds testify to gravel and sand extraction, elevated summits offer wide panoramas, ...
Shrubby heather, gray heather, and bell heather color hundreds of hectares purple in August and September.
The vast pine forests are the favorite refuge of roe deer.
The completely harmless smooth snake, the common frog, the viviparous lizard, ... prove that amphibians and reptiles also feel at home in the Nationaal Park.
The Nationaal Park has many faces and each walking area has its charm. The visitor centers and toegangspoorten are happy to assist you along the way.
Bosland National Park
Discover the wild beauty of Bosland National Park!
Welcome to Bosland National Park: a true natural paradise in the north of the Belgian province of Limburg. Here you will find no less than 5,032 hectares of pristine nature spread over the municipalities of Hechtel-Eksel, Lommel, and Pelt. And that's not all: Bosland National Park is expanding! In a few years, this unique area will extend to over 10,000 hectares of natural splendor.
Be amazed by 10 unique sub-zones — each with its own character and beauty — which together form an impressive whole. To the south, Bosland National Park borders the largest military domain in Flanders, Camp Beverlo, together forming the largest natural massif in Flanders.
RivierPark Maasvallei
The Meuse is an impressive rain-fed river that forms the Belgian-Dutch border between Maastricht and Kessenich over a length of about 40 km. During a dry summer, it seems possible to ford the river at certain points. In case of persistent rainfall in the upstream region, the river becomes an impressive swollen body of water.
The winding river shapes a varied landscape with a complex network of old meanders, channels, and gravel banks. It is followed by several well-defined residential cores. In places, one can still recognize typical small-scale agricultural landscapes with orchards and Maasheggen. The open water is a delight for water and migratory birds.
The Meuse valley is a region with its own character and some monumental historic sites as well as distinctive village landscapes. But also several estates and castles are well preserved. Moreover, there is the rich tradition of shooting festivals, processions, fanfares, and carnival parades…
After river widening works in its bed to protect the surrounding villages against flooding, the river once again regains all its space. This creates new opportunities for wildlife. Large herbivores such as Galloway cattle and konik horses bring diversity to these new landscapes. Human intervention is now minimal. In the nature reserves of the RivierPark, this approach increasingly favors species of plants and animals… and visitors. So come and enjoy this cross-border, growing, and varied landscape park.
Unesco Man & Biosphere KempenBroek
At the border between the Belgian and Dutch Limburg and North Brabant lies the Unesco Man & Biosphere KempenBroek, a little-known cross-border area stretching across the municipalities of Bocholt, Bree, Kinrooi and Maaseik, Cranendonck, Weert and Nederweert.
Here you will find hidden treasures that may not immediately reveal their secrets, but are worth discovering. Surprising with their charm, mystery, and discretion. On every hiking map, you will find another place not to be missed. The region is so varied that it offers something for every taste: preserved trails along mysterious marshes, beekvalleien, heathland and fields. Once a refuge for the bokkenrijders and smugglers. Today a pleasant place to explore the open space and listen to the silence.
Valley of the Zwarte Beek
The Zwarte Beek is much more than just a simple stream. On the slopes and in the valley, many authentic landscapes still remain. You start at the top of dry hills with heathland and woodland. Here, you will see colorful meadows, fields, pollarded trees, and wooded edges. Down below, in the humid valley, you will find mown meadows, swamp forests, and many peat bogs with fens and floating peat mosses. This peat is a millennial giant sponge reaching up to 8 meters thick. This makes the landscape of the Valley of the Zwarte Beek unique in Flanders. It is one of the most valuable stream valleys in Western Europe!
The Valley of the Zwarte Beek offers you a varied landscape for your walks. At Resterheide, set out to find the source of the Zwarte Beek, and from Venusberg, you will have a magnificent view over the Valley of the Zwarte Beek. Or discover the vast meadows at Zelem? The choice is yours…
Want to know more about the Zwarte Beek? Visit the De Watersnip Visitor Center, Grauwe Steenstraat 7/2, 3582 Koersel-Beringen.
Voeren
The Voeren region is the green heart of the Euregio between the cities of Hasselt, Liège, Maastricht, and Aix-la-Chapelle. Located in the transition zone between the Pays de Herve, the Dutch Limburg Heuvelland, and the Hesbaye, the Voeren region guarantees a highly varied landscape, unique in Flanders.
With its low population density and relatively preserved landscape, this region of about 5,000 ha benefits from numerous natural and scenic values. The region reflects a rich cultural and historical past, still clearly visible: castles, mills, abandoned flint and marl quarries, springs, and holloways. They enrich the landscape of Voeren and contribute to its unique quality.
The Berwijn, the Voer, the Noorbeek, the Veurs, and the Gulp carve their way through the landscape and give it marked relief. The network of marked walking trails guides you to the most beautiful spots in the Voeren region.
De Groote Heide
On both sides of the Belgian-Dutch border, six municipalities collaborate to both preserve their nature and give it more visibility. Because nature knows no national borders. This further improves the quality of the cross-border nature park De Groote Heide.
In the region stretching across the municipalities of Cranendonck, Eindhoven, Hamont-Achel, Heeze-Leende, Pelt and Valkenswaard, there are numerous small natural areas, each with its own scale, identity and charm.
Wildlife and flora enthusiasts will find plenty to enjoy at De Groote Heide.
De Merode
In the landscaped park of Merode, you can enjoy precious nature for hours. Woodland, heathland landscapes, Demerbroeken, Laakvalleien, ... A variety of magnificent landscapes with a wealth of plants and animal species.
Thanks to the Merode walking trail network, you can easily move from one natural area to another and discover the most beautiful places.