Viewpoint Over Ven Nooit Gedacht

After the major nature development works of a few years ago, nature seems to be recovering spectacularly here. To monitor the recovery, volunteers from Natuurpunt map out the breeding birds, plants, insects and mammals every year. Bird migration is also monitored as closely as possible from a bird migration counting post.

Wonderful spot to see 'Ven Nooit Gedacht' and the slightly further Munninckxgoor with an information board of the birds in Averbode Bos en Heide by Natuurpunt. Beautiful in every season, even when many migratory birds are already in warmer places. Some exceptional water birds have already been seen here since the restoration of the fen.

The names of the historic - restored - fens that you find here were given by the monks who once dug the ponds to breed fish and extract peat. You can still notice this origin in the name of the larger of the two at this location, Munninckxgoor. However, the smaller fen, which is clearly visible from the plateau, was not on the old Averbodium map and the name, "Ven Nooit Gedacht", was therefore coined in more modern times, namely during the recent reconstruction, by the employees of the nature organizations. The fens receive many visitors who are heading south to spend the winter in the fall. But there are also numerous egrets and, with a bit of luck, you can also find and see spoonbills, redshanks and wild swans from the viewing hut. There were also black storks and once...a flamingo. But the latter had a not so natural cause.

Excellent picture for those who like to observe birds, or for those who like to see everything on and around the water