Het Wik Nature Reserve

Het Wik Nature Reserve

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Het Wik Nature Reserve

Hiking

4.7

(31)

Cycling

5.0

(7)

Road cycling

5.0

(2)

Gravel riding

(1)

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Location: Zonhoven, Hasselt, South Limburg, Flanders, Belgium

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July 7, 2024

Hiking

Het Wik is a nature reserve east of the Provincial Domain Bokrijk and is part of the pond area that we know as De Wijers. There are many places where you can be along this area of more than 100 hectares with 19 ponds, such as here (during a walk from Zonhoven towards the Bokrijk arboretum).

Het Wik was part of the Bokrijk area as it was sold in the thirteenth century by the then Count of Loon to the Herkenrode Abbey. Most ponds were then created for fish farming, others later by iron ore mining.

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An 🇧🇪

July 7, 2024

Hiking

The area is incredibly diverse. There are ponds constructed in cascades with monks' hoods (mini-sluices shaped like a monk's cowl), canals, and ditches that allow water to flow from a higher-lying pond to a lower one. Alder swamp forests, peaty birch forests, bog myrtle thickets, and reed beds also occur. More than 80 bird species breed here, including the northern goshawk, honey buzzard, black woodpecker, woodcock, and wood warbler, all making their home in the wooded surroundings of the ponds.
@nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Het_Wik

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April 27, 2025

Hiking

Update: there is a nice little nature trail between two of the ponds. Yellow iris, lots of croaking at the right time, water birds (spotted a bittern), in short: just do it. There is no bird hide and branches can obstruct the view of those who want to look a bit further, but it is definitely worth it. The path ends at a forest path along the previously mentioned Zusterkloosterbeek.

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