딜센-스토켐 최고의 사이클링 경로

국경을 넘나드는 마스강 계곡 공원의 자연 보호 구역은 네덜란드 측에서는 Natuurmonumenten과 Staatsbosbeheer가, 플랑드르 측에서는 Limburgs Landschap와 Natuurpunt가 관리합니다. 거친 강 자연을 통제하고 동시에 풍경에 다양성과 역동성을 더하기 위해 대형 초식동물을 이용합니다. 관리가 없다면 이 지역은 빠르게 황폐해지고 숲으로 뒤덮일 것입니다. 마스강을 따라서는 거의 전적으로 갤로웨이 소와 코닉 말이 보입니다. 영구적인 유지 보수 직원으로서 자연 보호 구역을 돌아다닙니다. 그들은 풀을 뜯고, 가지를 치고, 비료를 주고, 발굽으로 땅을 갈고, 털과 배설물을 통해 씨앗을 퍼뜨립니다. 이를 통해 개방된 지역이 유지되고 생명으로 가득한 다양하고 풍부한 풍경이 발달할 수 있습니다. 갤로웨이와 코닉 모두 일년 내내 이 지역에서 생활합니다. 이들은 도움 없이 일년 내내 야외에서 생활하도록 만들어진 강하고 튼튼한 품종입니다. 추위에 강하고 자립적이며 유연합니다. 계절의 조건에 따라 털, 행동 및 소화력을 조정합니다. 스스로 먹이를 찾고 바람, 비, 눈, 햇볕을 견뎌냅니다.

하이킹은 Hoge Kempen 국립공원을 가로질러 당신을 데려갈 것입니다. 이 공원에서는 광활한 소나무 숲과 끝없는 황무지가 번갈아 나타납니다. 자전거 노드 550과 551 사이의 새로운 연결 덕분에 자연은 당신에게 접시 위에 제공됩니다. 당신은 700헥타르로 플랑드르에서 가장 큰 황무지 지역 중 하나인 메헬렌 황무지를 자전거로 타게 될 것입니다. 이 경로의 하이라이트는 의심할 여지 없이 거의 300미터 길이의 나무 다리로, 풍경에서 알아볼 수 있는 요소입니다. 다리에서는 자연 환경의 탁 트인 전망을 즐길 수 있습니다.

As 역은 21A(Hasselt-As) 및 21B(As-Eisden) 노선의 이전 기차역입니다. 역 건물에는 현재 레스토랑이 있으며 Kolenspoorvereniging은 이곳을 Waterschei-As-Eisden 관광 철도 노선 운영에 사용합니다. As 역은 또한 Hoge Kempen 국립공원의 관문 중 하나이며 전망대가 있습니다.

Maasmechelen에 위치한 Terhills Hotel은 4성급 호텔과 59개의 럭셔리 객실을 갖추고 있어 품격과 편안함의 총합입니다.

Near Dilsen-Stokkem (Belgium), in the cross-border nature reserve along the Meuse Valley around the De Wissen Visitor Center and the Negenoord-Kerkeweerd nature reserve, you'll regularly encounter Konik horses in the open floodplains and grasslands, along with other large grazers such as Galloway cattle. These horses are not domesticated pets, but are part of a consciously implemented nature management program aimed at keeping the river landscape as naturally dynamic and biodiverse as possible. The Konik horses here live freely in the floodplains and river landscapes year-round. Their presence is functional: grazing, they cut down the grass and maintain open grasslands. In places where cattle primarily keep shrubs and young trees short, the horses also ensure that herbs, flowers, and short grass are preserved. This combination allows these large grazers to create a diverse patchwork of open areas, coarse grasses, herb-rich thickets, and vegetated edges—exactly what many plant and animal species need to thrive. In the area around Stokkem, you often hear from local guides like the MaasVerkenner that you'll almost always see these horses during a walk, especially on the paths around the old Meuse branches and small lakes of Negenoord. These grazers are an important part of the river landscape experience, and they naturally regulate grazing management, allowing the landscape to develop into a rich ecosystem with countless bird species, insects, and plants that are rare elsewhere in Limburg. Hikers and nature lovers can often observe the Konik horses from the trails around De Wissen and the breeding banks of the Meuse. Because they are wild animals, it is advised to always keep a distance, not feed them, and not disturb their natural behavior. If you're lucky, you might see them grazing peacefully in the morning light or among colorful, herbaceous meadows—an impressive example of how nature management and ecology go hand in hand in this part of the Meuse Valley.

The Kikbeek Source Valley is a unique nature reserve of approximately 120 hectares in the municipality of Maasmechelen. It is part of the Hoge Kempen National Park and situated in and around the former sand and gravel quarry from which the meandering Kikbeek stream originates. This landscape is characterized by alternating open heathlands, forests and marshlands, small ponds, and the source itself, which together form a rich ecological fabric where walking routes lead visitors past water, heathland, reed beds, and forests in an atmosphere of tranquility and natural diversity. The valley is situated on both sides of paths normally included in the network of walks, such as the green and blue loops of the Mechelse Heide, which start from the parking lot at Camping Kikmolen, for example, and loop through the area with views of ponds, heathland, and woodlands. This valley is ecologically valuable, and the combination of a former quarry, seepage zones, and wetlands creates habitats for numerous insects, birds, and plants typical of wet and semi-open nature. The area provides a window into the ancient geology and landscape history of this region, where nature has gradually recovered since the time of human use. However, the situation around the valley and its hiking trails has been in flux for years and is not always accessible as it once was. Due to a landslide in the Kikbeekbron valley, the area is officially closed to recreation, and the blue and green hiking trails that run through it have remained inaccessible to visitors for some time. Research by the Agency for Nature and Forests, in collaboration with geotechnical experts, has revealed that there are risks of further landslides and slope instability, making the valley unsafe to access for the time being, and recreational use has been temporarily suspended. Clear signs on site inform visitors that access is prohibited and that alternative routes outside the valley must be followed. This situation serves as a precautionary measure as long as the stability of the former quarry and surrounding areas is maintained. At the same time, larger nature restoration and water management projects are planned or underway in this area. The Agency for Nature and Forests is carrying out the Blue Deal project at the Kikbeek spring, one of the largest of its kind in Flanders. The goal is to restore the ecosystem of the original valley, strengthen wetlands, and retain more water in the area. This extensive intervention is linked to sustainable water management, biodiversity, and the long-term health of the area. Parts of the valley are temporarily closed to enable methodical implementation. Due to these circumstances, the hiking trails through the former quarry and along the Kikbeek spring are currently not open as you know them from previous hiking maps, and the green and blue loops, which were equally enjoyable for a walk around the pond and through the heathland, are not accessible to recreational users. Yet, for many nature lovers, including myself, the allure of this area is hard to resist. Despite the official closures and clearly indicated restrictions, I have walked past the signs and barriers precisely because the paths are still partially visible and because the sensory experience of the landscape remains very inviting. The story of my walk through the valley, even though it was technically prohibited by the managers, reveals the appeal of this landscape. The tranquil water features, the transition from open heathland to woodland, and the atmosphere of a hidden stream valley invite exploration even when restricted zones indicate it's not officially permitted. This personal touch contrasts the formal, protective management of vulnerable natural areas with the human tendency to seek out the peace and beauty of such places, even if that means straying slightly off the beaten track.

It's lovely to cycle here on the dike. There's always something to see on either side, and the people you meet are very friendly and seem happy. It must be the beautiful surroundings.

Old coal winding towers near Maasmechelen