Warmbeekvallei - green - 2,0 km

Start your adventure with a short hiking loop in the shadow of the historic Trappist Abbey 'Achelse Kluis'. Visit the visitors' center to learn all about De Kluis and its surroundings. The green hiking loop takes you along the picturesque Warmbeek through green fields and brings you back via a beautiful chestnut avenue, where bats have their nesting sites.

The Valley of the Warmbeek 

The Warmbeek originates twenty kilometers southward in the municipality of Peer. At Sint-Huibrechts-Lille, it flows under the Bocholt-Herentals canal. On the territory of Hamont-Achel, the Warmbeek flows for just over 8 km and has a drop of 9 meters here. Upon crossing the Dutch border, its name changes to Tongelreep, and it eventually flows into the Dommel at the Genneper Parken in Eindhoven.

In the past, the meanders of the Warmbeek near the Achelse Kluis were straightened, diked, and dammed to drain the water faster to the north. Thanks to the re-meandering, this area now functions again as a water buffer, where the river is allowed to overflow during high water levels.

Between the Tomp and the Mulke, the riverbed was relocated for the construction of a mill pond of about 7 hectares, which guaranteed the operation of the watermill during dry periods.

In 2015, fish ladders were built at the former watermill the Mulke, allowing fish to swim upstream again to their spawning grounds. Upstream from the fish ladder, a 'spawning riffle' was also constructed, an ideal spawning place for rare stream fish such as the bullhead and the loach.

Experience the rich history and beautiful nature of the Valley of the Warmbeek!