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The Bootjesven is one of the most famous and beautiful spots in Wortel-Kolonie 🌿. 📍What is the Bootjesven? • It is a natural fen, surrounded by pine forests and heathland, in the heart of the tranquility of the Colony. • The name refers to the "boats" of peat moss that float on the water, giving the surface a fairytale-like appearance. • The fen is a vulnerable nature reserve: special plants such as cotton grass and sundew grow there, and you often find dragonflies and waterfowl there. • It is part of the Merkske Valley, a European Natura 2000 protected area. 🌿 Experience for hikers and cyclists • The Bootjesven is located along several beautiful hiking trails that start from the De Klapekster Visitor Center. • It is an ideal place to take a break and enjoy the peace and quiet and nature. • Because it is a sensitive area, walking on designated paths and not allowing dogs off the leash is important for the preservation of this unique natural environment.

Winding paths lead along the ponds and through the silence area...

The Bootjesven is a fen that was created by extracting peat. Peat was extracted on a large scale in the entire Noorderkempen region between the middle of the 13th and the 18th century. Peat is dried peat that was dug from the marshy peat areas. The extracted peat was laid out to dry and then used as a raw material. This location is now a large body of water where it is wonderful to stay. You can cool off up to your knees and no further. Swimming is prohibited.

After having to sprint through the berms and switchbacks, this section allows you to rest

easy trails accessible to all

The Kooldries-Hoofsweer is only accessible to walkers. The Paepestraat that separates the two areas is accessible to cyclists. Hikers can discover the area via a number of marked hiking trails. During the digging of this canal in the 19th century, thick layers of clay were noticed in the subsoil. After the clay extraction, the wells fell into disrepair, filled with rainwater and eventually covered with willow thickets. Due to the underlying clay layer, the area is characterized as a very dynamic system of drying out and rewetting, as a result of which the Kooldries-Hoofsweer is home to a unique fauna and flora. Bird species such as little grebe, woodpeckers, nuthatches, orioles, tree falcons and kingfishers find refuge in the large clay pits. They are adventurous walks because the paths are not paved. It is therefore advisable to wear good walking shoes or boots. Buggies and prams are difficult to handle in the area.

The Putse Moer is a swampy area northeast of Putte and west of Kalmthout, which is partly on Dutch and partly on Belgian territory.

One of the many beautiful ponds on the heath...