Kievitsheide

Kievitsheide was once part of the Abtsheide. The Kievitsheide nature reserve is a remnant of the historic "Kievit Heyde". This vast heathland stretched over the territory of the municipalities of Beerse, Merksplas and Rijkevorsel. The historic heathland area was excavated for clay extraction. The rest of the heathland was planted with coniferous woods for the mining industry.

This public municipal forest of approximately 11 hectares is the last remnant of the once large municipal heath of Rijkevorsel.
The Kievitsheide, at that time a moist heathland, is located south of the canal on the border of Rijkevorsel and Beerse and on the watershed between Maas and Scheldt. The coniferous plantations dominate, between which a spontaneous storage of native hardwood occurs.