Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Lakes

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

Save

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

Save

See rides here

Take Me There

Routes here

Top cycling routes to Ruiterskuilen Pond

4.6

(25)

238

riders

1. Abdijvijver – Ruiterskuilen Pond loop from Genk

52.7km

03:03

140m

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

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Intermediate

4.5

(16)

194

riders

2. Ruiterskuilen Pond – Abdijvijver loop from Zolder

53.1km

03:07

130m

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

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Expert

4.5

(8)

riders

3. Zuid-Willemsvaart – Neeroeteren Marina loop from Neerglabbeek

51.4km

02:58

190m

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

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Intermediate

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.

Translated by Google •

Details

Informations

Elevation 80 m

Weather

Today

Wednesday 29 October

14°C

9°C

0 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 16.0 km/h

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See rides here

Take Me There

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

Other Popular Places to Check Out

André Dumont Coal Mine – Thor Park

View of the Terril in Hoge Kempen National Park

Kolenspoor Cycling Path

Station As

Uitkijktoren Hoge Kempen (As)

Oudsberg Sand Dune

Oudsberg Dune

Molenvijverpark – Sundial Park

Path Along the Old Railway, Hoge Kempen National Park

Oudsbergen Countryside

Tree Growing Through Fence in Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen

Panoramic View of Hoge Kempen National Park

Ruiterskuilen Pond

1. Abdijvijver – Ruiterskuilen Pond loop from Genk

2. Ruiterskuilen Pond – Abdijvijver loop from Zolder

3. Zuid-Willemsvaart – Neeroeteren Marina loop from Neerglabbeek

Other Popular Places to Check Out

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️