’s Hertogenheide

's Hertogenheide, located in Aarschot, is a heath area with four plots of approximately four hectares total area, surrounded by a larger forest. The heath present in the area is increasingly being taken over by reforestation and heathland restoration work has been carried out to regenerate the heathland. These heath restoration activities provide opportunities for the development of pile-dried grassland. To make this possible, the heath is being rejuvenated by chopping in strips and cutting and draining the deforestation.

Beautiful piece of heathland between the woods...

Southwest of the city of Aarschot lies an area that was in the possession of the lords of Aarschot for centuries, who received the ducal title in 1532 (hence the name). The area had a common use, of which several drift roads are material testimony. Along these roads, the people of Aarschot took their cattle to the heath to graze. In the 17th century, the Duchy of Aarschot fell into the hands of the Dukes of Arenberg. From the 18th century onwards they rationalized their domains to increase income. 's-Hertogenheide was planted with coniferous wood, which drastically changed the character of the area. At the end of the 19th century, the coniferous forest gave way to heathland, mixed forests, grasslands and fields. After the First World War, the possessions of the Duke of Arenberg were placed under sequestration by the Belgian state. In 1978 it was protected as a landscape, but a lack of management caused the heathland to disappear. A turnaround has been underway since 2014 and you can admire the result today with beautiful paths through the heathland. Source: onroerenderfgoed.be/blog/heideherstel-op-s-hertogenheide-1