Hamel Pond

The Hamelwijer belongs to the Vogelzang Domain. This is the large pond on the southern flank of the Bolderberg, at its south-eastern end. The Hamelvijver is one and a half km long, narrow, often not much wider than 200 meters. The surface area is approximately 30 ha. The sandy road that runs from Kasteel Vogelzang to the hamlet of Bolderberg follows the southern edge of this pond.
(Historical ecology in Limburg Partial study De Wijers)

The Hamelvijver is rented to and is operated by fish farmers, Bijnens van Zonhoven. Source: biodiversiteitlimburg.be/07-DeWijers-Interviews.pdf

This is one of the 1001 ponds of the Wijers in the Bolderberg nature reserve. They get their water from the Laambeek and the Echelbeek via a staircase system and a network of supply and drainage ditches. Some ponds are still used for fish farming. Due to their size, the larger ponds still have a fairly natural structure. They are an ideal habitat for waterfowl such as grebe, little grebe and ducks of all kinds.
Along the Laambeek, Limburgs Landschap vzw manages various nature reserves such as Thiewinkel, Kolvereren, Laambroeken with here and there redesigned ponds for nature.