De Hoge Mouw with its sleeping giant

The name "Slapende Reus", meaning "Sleeping Giant", does not come from this work of art by the architect and artist duo Gijs Van Vaerenbergh - it was rather inspired by the name. But where does he come from?

You are on the Kempen ridge, a chain of hills made of ferrous sandstone. Due to its length and height, it is not only the largest, but also the most impressive far and wide.

Look around you: the landscape, the forest, the heath and the sand have inspired people and stimulated their imagination for centuries. So it's no wonder that there are so many legends about mythical creatures here.

The huge shape of the shifting dunes makes it appear as if there is a giant in the landscape. Dunes typically move about five meters a year, while those in the Kempen no longer move. The vegetation on them has brought them to a standstill. As long as the vegetation is there, the dunes stand still - and the giant sleeps on.

Highest point of Hoge Mouw ridge.
Shhh... enter this place quietly because the Sleeping Giant lies here...

The Hoge Mouw mountain, which gave the domain its name, is 35 meters high and is part of the Kempense Heuvelrug.
Not to be missed: the artwork 'A GIANT SCULPTURE' by Gijs Van Vaerenbergh adorns the top of the High Sleeve. The monumental head seems to rise from the loose sand and feeds the numerous legends that have captivated the region for centuries.

An ideal place to let the children romp in the soft sand and to discover the head of the sleeping giant from closer up...