Warmbeekvallei - blue - 4,4 km

Discover the Enchanting Route through the Pine Woodlands!

This beautiful hiking route takes you mainly through fragrant pine woodlands and along peaceful, paved roads. Along the way, you pass the unique forest cemetery, more than worth a small detour. Here you will also discover some beautifully restored Bronze Age burial mounds, which take you on a journey through time.

The Valley of the Warmbeek

The Warmbeek rises in Peer, twenty kilometers to the south, and flows through Hamont-Achel, with a drop of 9 meters over a distance of 8 kilometers. At Sint-Huibrechts-Lille, the stream crosses the Bocholt-Herentals canal and changes its name to Tongelreep at the Dutch border, eventually flowing into the Dommel at the Genneper Parken in Eindhoven.

In the past, the meanders of the Warmbeek near the Achelse Kluis were straightened and diked to discharge water more quickly. Thanks to recent re-meandering, this area now functions as a natural water buffer, where the river can overflow during high tide.

Between the Tomp and the Mulke, the riverbed was relocated to create a mill pond of about 7 hectares, essential for the operation of the watermill during dry periods. In 2015, fish ladders were installed at the former watermill the Mulke, allowing fish to swim upstream again to their spawning grounds. Upstream of the fish ladder, a 'spawning riffle' has been created, ideal for rare stream fish such as the chub and the bright smallfish.

Come and enjoy this versatile hiking route and the beautiful Valley of the Warmbeek!