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The Kampina marshes are part of an area that has been used for centuries as fenland, peat bog, and wet heathland. Where damp lowlands, fens, and marshy areas now lie, there used to be a continuous marshland—with peat moss, wet heathland, and willow thickets—that was part of a much larger raised bog and peat bog area. Over time, this type of landscape became rarer due to land reclamation, peat extraction, and agriculture, but part of it has been preserved in the Kampina. These marshes function as a buffer between the Kampina's dry forest and heathland and the surrounding wet stream and fen structures. The wet environment provides shelter for moisture-loving plants, dragonflies, amphibians, and waterfowl—and forms an important ecosystem within the area. Because the ground is often marshy and the water level fluctuates, nature has adapted here: you'll find typical marsh vegetation and transition zones where reeds, scrub, and wet grassland alternate. For hikers, the marshland is one of the most characteristic and authentic parts of the Kampina: you'll see the alternation between wet and dry, between peat, fen, and heathland, and experience the contrast with the surrounding lanes, fields, and dry areas. It demonstrates that the Kampina is not just heathland or forest, but also a historic marshland landscape with a long ecological and cultural history of its own.

The Brandven is one of the most famous fens in the Kampina region, situated in the heart of this unique nature reserve. The name likely refers to the heathland fires that frequently occurred here. Heathlands and fens were once fragile landscapes: a single spark could be enough to set large areas ablaze. Such fires kept the heathland open and prevented young trees from overgrowing the area. The fen itself is an old raised bog, formed during the last Ice Age, when meltwater and rain accumulated in shallow hollows in the landscape. For centuries, the surrounding area was used by local farmers, who grazed their sheep and cut sods for their straw barns. Today, the Brandven is a protected natural area. The fen attracts many birds, such as ducks, geese, and sometimes even cranes during migration. Together with the surrounding heathland and forests, it forms a typical Brabant cultural landscape where nature and history intersect.

Torreven can be admired in all its splendor

In the far west lies a military complex and south of the Mariahoutse Bossen one finds the Heieindse Loop. The area connects to the Vresselse Bos in the west, to the forests of Olen and Mosbulten in the southwest, and to the forests Lijnt and Het Geregt in the east. North of the area lies an extensive agricultural development. In the southeast a small marsh area, the Rietven, connects to the Mariahoutse Bossen. This is now a marsh area with birch and summer oaks. The area is freely accessible. There are walks, bridle paths and an extensive mountain bike trail has been set out in the forest.

The Mariahoutse Bossen, also called Lieshoutse Bossen or Lieshoutse Heide, is an elongated Dutch forest area of 158 ha that is located immediately north of Mariahout. The forest, which is owned by the municipality of Laarbeek, is a young heathland development and mainly consists of plantations of Scots pine, although other tree species can also be found, such as beech. In the southwest of the area lies the Torreven (sometimes also called Torrenven or Torenven). This is an elongated fen that threatened to silt up and was cleaned up in 1992. The area surrounded by heathland remnants is now managed in such a way that the forest edge is pushed back, which counteracts silting up because the wind has more play on the water surface. Here and there, parts are also being stripped of sods and the area is grazed by sheep.

wealth for the waterfowl

NOTE: Brandven is currently only accessible from the south. The other paths have been under water for months.

Beautiful area with many possibilities