Bring your walking boots and your clogs! Take a scenic stroll through one of Limburg’s best nature reserves, maybe even hop over the border while you’re at it.
Head over to North Limburg’s Belgian-Dutch border for a relaxing walk through the scenic, natural landscape at the Hageven nature reserve. Pass through heather, forest, fens and swamps, watch the Dommel wind through the beautiful landscape: the variety makes it a lovely place to visit all year round! The reserve crosses borders in more ways than one. Six-hundred hectares are shared between the Belgian side, known as Hageven, and the Dutch side, known as the Plateaux. As well as that, Flanders and the Netherlands have joined forces for the protection and management of the reserve, so it's pretty nice.
Cameras at the ready! There'll be plenty of opportunities to take some nice pictures here, but make sure to find the suspension bridge. You will come across it by following the purple square from the Belgian side and the yellow arrow from the Dutch side and if you're really keen for some scenic Instagram content, it's only a short detour from the many of the other marked routes.
Any nature lovers will want to stop off at the observation platform and birdwatching hideouts. Need some refreshment after all that walking? Head over to the visitors centre and have a drink in the garden or warm up in the café, only on the Belgian side though. If you're Limburg and craving some more outdoor action, the reserve is a 20-minute drive from Lommel, so if you want to have a change of scene then head over to the Lommel Sahara where you swap moorland for desert. Yes, a desert, in Belgium...pretty cool huh?
If you’re just looking for some fresh air or if you fancy a bit more of a walk, then the reserve has got you covered. The reserve also has routes that are suitable for wheelchairs and strollers, so everyone is welcome here. There are 5 walking routes that begin at the Belgian visitors:
- Hubert Lehaenpad: marked by a yellow diamond and is 1.7 km.
- Hagevenpad: marked by a green rectangle route and is 3.6 km.
- Oranje wandeling: marked by an orange circle and is 5.3 km,
- Hagevenpad: marked by a purple square and is 6.7 km
- Rode wandeling: marked by a red triangle route and is 9.1 km.
Starting from the Netherlands? There are 2 walking routes that begin at Dutch entrance.
- Vloeiweidenpad: marked by a red arrow and is 3.3 km.
- Panoramapad: marked by a yellow arrow and is 7 km.
Legs need stretching a bit further? Fancy some border hopping? The Tweelandenpad loop is marked by a blue arrow and is 9.7 km. It takes you around the whole reserve and can be started from the Dutch or Belgian side.
Tips and Tricks
- Note that the reserve is difficult to reach by public transport.
- Guided walks are possible by appointment, so contact the visitors centre if you’re interested. Contact details can be found here
- The routes loop back around to their start point, either on the Belgian side or Dutch side. Look out for the red and yellow arrows, as these begin and end in the Netherlands. But, you can follow the blue arrow: it has starting points on both sides, as the loop takes you all the way around the reserve.
- The reserve is dog friendly, just be sure to keep them on a leash.
Getting There
- By Car: car parking available at the visitors centre on the Belgian side and dedicated parking on the Dutch side
