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Smeetshof Nature Reserve

Smeetshof Nature Reserve

Highlight • Natural

Smeetshof Nature Reserve

Recommended by 14 hikers out of 17

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Natuurreservaat Smeetshof

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Location: Bocholt, Maaseik, South Limburg, Flanders, Belgium

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Best Hikes to Smeetshof Nature Reserve

4.4

(13)

hikers

1. Wooden Boardwalk Over the Pond – The Smeetshof Nature Reserve loop from Stramproy

8.67km

02:11

10m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.3

(8)

hikers

2. Laurabossen Forest – Boardwalk Smeetshof loop from Altweerterheide

11.2km

02:49

20m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.4

(5)

hikers

3. Boardwalk Smeetshof – The Smeetshof Nature Reserve loop from Bocholt

11.4km

02:52

20m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

Tips

May 18, 2023

The Smeetshof is both the name of the farm (see photos of the white-painted building) where the walks depart and the nature reserve through which the walks run. The farm was renovated in 1913 and called Smeetshof by the then owners, contractor Smeets-Clerx from Eksel. The buildings have been the property of the Flemish Land Company since 1999, which makes them available as part of the 't Smeetshof nature development project, as you can read on the information board with the photos.

It also states that the Brussels lawyer family Mahieu built the first house here in 1874 after they bought the land from the widow de l'Escaille-d'Erp de Holt after the costs of the large-scale reclamation of former municipal lands in the former swamp forest here. had risen high.

The nature development area is managed by Natuurpunt to give wet nature every opportunity. The area surrounding the Smeetshof was once an enormous impenetrable swamp that became fragmented over time, became forested and later drained for agriculture. You will now mainly find moist grasslands with many marsh plants and marsh birds. Walks mainly take place on defined paths to allow recovery. There is also a lot of work being done to re-route streams and the like, which means that part of previous walks is currently closed and you can find parts here and there with water and canals that are not on a map. This is certainly the case on the former yellow route. When you do end up there, you already notice what the area will look like.

Smeetshof nature reserve is part of the Kempen~Broek border park area. You can therefore combine walks with other areas, also from the former farm and they often run in both Belgium (Limburg) and the Netherlands (Limburg and Brabant). More on the information boards between the photos.

Translated by Google •

Jeff S

April 7, 2024

From the white building you dive into the humid nature, paths meander along the trees, here and there a water hole or fen, Galloway cattle graze in the meadows...

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Ronny G

November 12, 2023

parking and starting point of various walks

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Details

Informations

Elevation 80 m

Weather

Sunday 21 December

7°C

2°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 10.0 km/h

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See hikes here

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Location: Bocholt, Maaseik, South Limburg, Flanders, Belgium

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Smeetshof Nature Reserve

1. Wooden Boardwalk Over the Pond – The Smeetshof Nature Reserve loop from Stramproy

2. Laurabossen Forest – Boardwalk Smeetshof loop from Altweerterheide

3. Boardwalk Smeetshof – The Smeetshof Nature Reserve loop from Bocholt

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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