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Information panels cover topics including: 1/ Landscape hike in Alden Biesen, history between field and meadow 2/ The main entrance becomes the back entrance Alden Biesen was previously approached via a different route. What now appears to be the back was once the impressive front. Changes in infrastructure, road layout, and landscaping shifted the access to the site. Over time, the original main entrance lost its function as the primary access point. 3/ Marshy valleys with hidden nature The area around Alden Biesen is characterized by damp lowlands and floodplains. These marshy areas harbor a unique, sometimes hidden, natural environment. Waterlogged soils, typical wetland plants, and a diverse animal population are characteristic features. The landscape was formed by natural watercourses and has been partially influenced by human use.

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The Secret Army Monument near Bilzen-Hoeselt is a war memorial and resistance memorial commemorating the work and sacrifices of the Belgian resistance movement, the Secret Army, during World War II. This monument is part of the Resistance Trail, a route through the Munsterbos forest and surrounding nature reserves where resistance fighters gathered in 1944, organized themselves, and were arrested or executed by the German occupiers in the days just before liberation. The Secret Army was one of the largest resistance groups in occupied Belgium during World War II. The movement consisted of civilians who went underground to coordinate resistance actions, provide assistance to the Allies, and sabotage operations against the German occupiers. Numerous members were active in the Limburg region, including groups organized around towns such as Bilzen, Genk, and Kortessem. The actual monument is located along the Resistance Trail near Hoelbeek in the Munsterbos area. Resistance fighters used this location as a safe haven, but some of them were arrested or executed around September 1944, just before the region was liberated. The memorial consists of a small chapel built in 1947 shortly after the war and commemorates the 51 members of the Secret Army who died in battles with the occupying forces while in captivity or during skirmishes in the final days of the war. Plaques bearing the names of these fallen resistance fighters are located on the chapel. The chapel and the monument along the Resistance Path are part of the architectural heritage and are officially recognized for their cultural-historical value: they bear witness to the resistance against the occupying forces and to the tragic events of the final year of the war. Every year, usually on the second Sunday of September, commemorations are held in memory of these resistance fighters, with family members, historians, and local visitors gathering to pay their respects. The monument isn't located in the heart of a city, but rather in the natural area around Hoelbeek and Munsterbos, so a visit is often combined with a walk along the Resistance Trail. The trail itself takes you along wooded paths, quiet lanes, and other war memorials, making it a historically and scenically significant route.

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The Bilzermolen, also known as the Bilsermolen or historically as the Bouchoutmolen, is a historic watermill on the Demer River in Bilzen-Hoeselt (Limburg, Belgium). This mill is part of the city's heritage and is protected as a monument and part of a protected village view, along with the landscape surrounding Park Haffmans. The history of the Bilzermolen dates back to at least the 13th century. In old documents, the mill is specifically mentioned in 1569, demonstrating its centuries-long role in the region's agricultural and economic life. The mill was known as the official ban mill of Bilzen, a grain mill authorized by the Prince-Bishop, where residents traditionally had their grain ground. The mill complex combines the mill house and residence in one building and is located at Kattebroekstraat 11 on the Demer River. The mill is an undershot mill, and the waterwheel is powered by the Demer River flowing beneath it. The current building bears traces of construction activities from both the 16th and 19th centuries, reflected in the architectural style and structure of the complex. In 1893, the mill suffered serious damage but was subsequently repaired. The mill remained in operation until around the Second World War, after which its operation gradually ceased. In the early 21st century, further restorations were carried out, including on the water wheel and internal workings, and a bypass with a fish ladder was constructed to allow fish to pass through the Demer River and spawn upstream. The Bilzermolen is situated in a green setting near Haffmans Park and De Katteberg, making it an attractive walking and heritage attraction for visitors who want to combine nature and history during their visit to Bilzen. The fish ladder and the bypass also demonstrate how historical heritage and ecology can go hand in hand today in the management of a river landscape. In short, the Bilzermolen is not only an industrial-archaeological monument but also a peaceful, picturesque spot where you can experience the long history of watermills in Limburg and where you can stop for a walk along the Demer River or in the surrounding park.

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The Alden-Biesen gazebo is a charming and historic horticultural feature that forms part of the rich heritage surrounding the Alden Biesen Commandery and the impressive castle grounds in Bilzen, Limburg. This historical garden feature dates from 1749 and is part of the estate's 18th-century rococo architecture. Originally, the gazebo was built as part of the rectory garden on land owned by the Grand Commander of Alden Biesen. Today, the gazebo, which initially functioned as a small chapel, stands in a visible and accessible location on Demerlaan after being moved from its original context and rebuilt in 1991. The gazebo has an octagonal shape with a mansard roof and a small spire, typical characteristics of 18th-century garden pavilions. It served not only as a decorative element in the garden but also as a quiet spot and a sheltered spot in the garden where one could enjoy the surroundings. Since November 16, 2022, the garden gazebo has been officially protected as a listed monument for its historical aesthetic and architectural value. This protection emphasizes the importance of this small but valuable heritage piece within the broader context of Alden-Biesen and the cultural history of the region. Today, when you stroll through the grounds or the surrounding area of Alden-Biesen, for example, through the gardens of the English Park or along the walking trails around the castle, the garden gazebo forms an atmospheric, decorative respite that invites you to reflect on the long history of garden and landscape architecture in this region. It demonstrates how carefully landscaped gardens and pavilions were once an integral part of life around a Commandery: as a place for reflection, views, and togetherness in a green setting.

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Park Haffmans in Bilzen is a green oasis near the city center where nature, culture, and history converge, creating a sense of tranquility and timelessness in the heart of the city. The park is part of the larger network of parks and nature reserves in Bilzen-Hoeselt and seamlessly connects to the De Katteberg recreation area and the Demer Valley. Originally, Park Haffmans was the garden of a notary's house, which later evolved into a public park through various owners. The layout is typical of an English landscape garden: spacious lawns, winding paths, stately trees, and sightlines that invite you to wander through the greenery and enjoy nature. What makes Park Haffmans a special place is not only the landscape itself, but also how the park embraces the Demer River. The Demer flows alongside the park and becomes part of the experience: water, greenery, and tranquility converge here. At the center of the park stands the Bilzermolen, a historic watermill that has been part of local culture for centuries. A fish ladder provides a new space for nature to flow and thrive. In summer, Park Haffmans, like the rest of the Demer Valley, transforms into a lush, almost jungle-like landscape: the grass grows tall, trees form dense canopies, and the light falls in warm hues through the foliage as the water ripples gently. Numerous walking paths, benches, and open grassy areas invite you to picnic or simply escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Park Haffmans also has a cultural side: it's the location of Ever Meulen's sculpture park, with sculptures commemorating the legendary Jazz Bilzen festival, adding vibrancy and meaning to this green space. Park Haffmans is therefore not simply a park; it is a fusion of natural history and culture, a place where water and greenery intertwine, and where you can hear the rhythm of the landscape even in the city.

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In the open water area between Bilzen and Hoeselt, where the Munsterbeek and Demer rivers meander through the landscape, you'll also find old watermills connected to the region's agricultural and industrial past. These mills aren't a major tourist attraction, but they are silent witnesses to how water power was used here for centuries to grind grain and keep village life going. One of the most famous is the Bilsermolen, also known as the Bouchoutmolen, located on the Demer River in Bilzen-Hoeselt. This mill is mentioned in sources dating back to the 16th century and, along with the surrounding park, is protected as a historic village view. The mill combines a building and a watercourse, transporting you to a time when the river was not only a natural resource but also a source of energy for daily work. A little further along Broekstraat in Hoeselt lies the Housseltmolen, a watermill with roots that possibly date back to before 1300. It was part of a larger mill site where a fulling mill was later built to meet the needs of local textile production. Around this mill, you see the wide, open landscape so typical of Haspengouw: grasslands, wet meadows, and waterways through which the Demer River and its tributaries flow gently. In addition, there are traces of other former mills in the area, such as the now-defunct Stiftsmolen (Stiftsmolen) or Munsterbilzermolen (Munsterbilzer Mill) on the Munsterbeek stream and the Motmolen (Mot Mill) on the Demer stream, which operated until the 19th and early 20th centuries. Walking or cycling through this landscape along the Munsterbeek stream, across river dunes, and between open fields, you see where water and mills converged in a rhythm of life and work. Today, the mills are often modest ruins or repurposed buildings, but they still carry the scent of water, grain, and history into the open space that forms the heart of Bilzen-Hoeselt.

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Information about the area

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Information board 2 Parking lot: Grand Commandery Alden Biesen... fairytale-like From the 14th century, Alden Biesen, then the headquarters of the province of Biesen, ruled over no fewer than twelve other commanderies in the Meuse-Rhine region. The Grand Commandery played a leading role as an economic, religious, and cultural center. And the fairytale continues. A visit to the Grand Commandery's grounds, including its beautiful French garden and English park, is an absolute must. For information about the history of this castle site, please contact the Alden Biesen Tourist Information Center. Seize the day... and fruit The standard orchards that border the Grand Commandery's grounds are part of the historic landscape. Dormice, little owls, and numerous other birds, such as the spotted flycatcher, feature in this majestic setting, attracted by the wide variety of fruits. Just like them, feel free to sample the delicious, unsprayed apples and pears in the orchard along Maastrichterallee. Or bring your picnic basket out here. The historic walls of the Hertenberg conceal a magnificent orchard with no fewer than 160 cherry varieties.

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