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Donderslag Heath

Donderslag Heath

Highlight • Natural

Donderslag Heath

Recommended by 76 hikers out of 78

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for: Vlaams Natuurreservaat Tenhaagdoornheide

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Location: Houthalen-Helchteren, Maaseik, South Limburg, Flanders, Belgium

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Best Hikes to Donderslag Heath

4.6

(34)

202

hikers

1. The Wijers Day Tripper 2

24.2km

06:11

90m

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Hard

4.5

(6)

107

hikers

2. Donderslag Heath – Tenhaagdoornheide Heathland loop from Nieuwe Kempen

4.06km

01:02

10m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

4.5

(11)

129

hikers

3. Engelhof Castle – Donderslag Heath loop from Nieuwe Kempen

6.08km

01:33

20m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

Tips

August 25, 2023

The Donderslagse Heide is located above Winterslag, south-west of parts of Oudsbergen and east of Helchteren. However, a large part of it is located in Oudsbergen, which of course includes several municipalities. Donderslag is also called Ophovenderheide and consists not only of heathland but also of fens such as the Ruiterskuilen and the Schaapsven. It is also part of the Dune Belt. I think this piece is located in Tenhaagdoornheide. To walk in Donderslag, it is best to start at Sentower Park or at the end of Donderslagweg in Wijshagen. More about Ophovenderheide at natuurenbos.be/ophovenderheide

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An 🇧🇪

June 4, 2024

The Battle of Saint Nicholas Day 1648 took place on this heath in 1648, during which many residents of the surrounding villages were killed. In the Early Modern Period, the Donderslagse Heide was part of an extensive heathland area. In the northeast, the Donderslagse Heide bordered the Ophovenerheide, part of the extensive Gruitroodse Heide, which stretched like a finger between Neerglabbeek and Opoeteren and further to Waterloos. Today this "finger" is known as the Dune Belt nature reserve. South of the Donderslagse Heide lay the Waterscheidse Heide (up to the Onderwijslaan in Genk), which continued to the southeast (the Zutendaalse and Mechelse Heide) and the southwest (Winterslagse Heide). The Waubergheide was located north of the Donderslagse Heide. West of the Donderslagse Heide lay the road from Peer to Helchteren, along which various lands had already been cultivated. Northwest of this road was another heathland area: the Wijchmaalse heath. From the nineteenth century, large parts of this heathland were transformed into agricultural areas (Waubergheide), wooded for mining (Zutendaalse Heide) or urbanized (Waterscheidse Heide). The part of the Donderslagse Heide east of the N76 was largely forested, just like the nearby Gruitroodse Heide. The southwestern part of the Donderslagse Heide, towards Houthalen, was built for the new Houthalen-Oost urban district.

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June 17, 2024

The paths through the Kempen heathland and sandy soils tend to be beautiful, especially with some slopes like here and for those who are very quiet with the occasional deer, hare or other critters nearby. With a bit of luck you will see the shepherd with his sheep or the sheep alone.

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Informations

Elevation 80 m

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Wednesday 12 November

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Location: Houthalen-Helchteren, Maaseik, South Limburg, Flanders, Belgium

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Donderslag Heath

1. The Wijers Day Tripper 2

2. Donderslag Heath – Tenhaagdoornheide Heathland loop from Nieuwe Kempen

3. Engelhof Castle – Donderslag Heath loop from Nieuwe Kempen

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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