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Ruiterskuilen Pond

Lakes

Ruiterskuilen Pond

Highlight • Lake

Ruiterskuilen Pond

Recommended by 167 cyclists out of 173

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen

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

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Top cycling routes to Ruiterskuilen Pond

4.6

(26)

240

riders

1. Abbey Pond – Ruiterskuilen Pond loop from Genk

53.1km

03:04

150m

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.6

(20)

216

riders

2. Ruiterskuilen Pond – Abbey Pond loop from Zolder

53.1km

03:06

130m

Hard bike ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

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Hard

4.5

(8)

102

riders

3. Zuid-Willems Canal – Neeroeteren Marina loop from Neerglabbeek

51.1km

02:57

190m

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

Tips

Didada

July 25, 2024

The Ruiterskuilen are two fens in the Ophovenerbos on the Kempens Plateau in the Belgian municipality of Opglabbeek. The fens are characterized by the brown color of the acidic water. The area is protected throughout Europe as part of a Natura 2000 area.
Like other fens in this region, the Reiterkuilen were created by sand dusting and are fed exclusively by rainwater. Archaeological research has shown that the podzol soil in the area around the Ruiterskuilen contains an important legacy from the Steen period.

In the more recent past, this fen was used as a resting place for horses. In 1798, hidden Lotlings found a suitable hiding place here.

Translated by Google •

Jan

March 9, 2021

* Origin history:
Like the other fens, Ruiterkuilen was created by sand drifts and is exclusively fed by rainwater.

* Sand drift
The sand that has been blown up into dunes comes from somewhere: in addition to places where the sand accumulates, there are also places where the sand is blown away. This is how bowl-shaped depressions arose. If there is still a layer below that that does not allow the water to pass through, the rainwater can no longer drain and a pond is created that is called a "ven" in the Kempen. How this layer is formed differs from place to place: sometimes it is a layer of clay, but usually it concerns humus particles that have become caked together, which are washed through the sand by the rain. They clump together at a depth of less than a meter.

* Acid rainwater
The pits gradually filled with rainwater and acidified because it contains no nutrients. The plants that occur there are adapted to that natural environment, but still remain extremely vulnerable. However, the brown color of the acidic water makes a pond a very attractive habitat for dragonflies and damselflies. The blue glazier is such a typical dragonfly that you can spot here.

Translated by Google •

Hutzlmandl

September 20, 2020

A pretty lake in the woods.

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Details

Informations

Elevation 80 m

Weather

Wednesday 17 December

13°C

6°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 22.0 km/h

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

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Ruiterskuilen Pond

1. Abbey Pond – Ruiterskuilen Pond loop from Genk

2. Ruiterskuilen Pond – Abbey Pond loop from Zolder

3. Zuid-Willems Canal – Neeroeteren Marina loop from Neerglabbeek

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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