The best cycling routes in Mechels Bos

The Kikmolen Water Paradise is one of the most striking and beloved features of Camping Kikmolen in Maasmechelen and is a real draw for families, holidaymakers, and day visitors. Nestled in the greenery, a large natural swimming lake combines relaxation, fun, and adventure in a setting that perfectly complements the Hoge Kempen landscape. Unlike a traditional swimming pool, you swim in natural water here with a sandy bottom that slopes gently, giving the water paradise an open, beach-like feel that perfectly complements outdoor living. The water paradise is especially known for its spectacular water slides, which are the highlight of many visitors' stays. The long, winding slide provides speed and excitement, while a second, shorter slide offers extra fun for younger children. These slides flow into the swimming lake, making the water paradise a place where action and relaxation constantly alternate. Spacious sunbathing areas surround the water where you can sunbathe, relax, or simply enjoy the view while others enjoy the water. For campers, the water paradise is a natural part of daily life at the campsite, but day visitors also find their way here. It's an ideal break from hiking and cycling in the Hoge Kempen National Park. After a hike through the heathland and forests, the water paradise is the perfect place to cool off, relax, and continue the day in a different atmosphere. The Kikmolen Water Paradise is not only a place for water fun but also a bridge between nature, recreation, and a holiday feeling, where young and old come together for a carefree summer experience.

In the Hoge Kempen National Park, Belgium's only national park, covering over 12,000 hectares of forests, heathlands, lakes, and valleys, cycling facilities have been significantly enhanced in recent years with new routes and experience points that make the area's natural diversity uniquely accessible to cyclists. One of the most striking of these is the cycle route near Kikmolen, located on the southwestern edge of the park near Maasmechelen, not far from the Dutch border. A special section cuts through the vast nature reserve. This cycling experience, part of the National Park's extensive cycling junction network, was introduced in 2021 as a new and attractive addition to the cycling offer. Instead of simply following regular cycle paths through forests and heathland, the route literally takes you through the heathland and open landscape of the Mechelse Heide, one of the largest heathlands in Flanders, with approximately 700 hectares of nature. What makes this route so special is the nearly 300-meter-long wooden panoramic bridge that forms part of the route between junctions 550 and 551. Constructed from sustainable wood, this bridge resembles a pier by the sea, yet nestled amidst the heathland and forests of Limburg. As you cycle across it, the path literally rises above the ground, offering unobstructed views of the Mechelse Heide and the surrounding nature park from its wooden structure. Horses graze in the distance, and in various spots, you'll see the rich flora and fauna that characterize the national park, making every bike ride a true nature experience. The route is approximately four kilometers long and forms part of the regional cycling network that runs through the National Park. You can combine this path with longer rides through the park using the numerous junctions, making it easy to create your own route or follow one of the suggested routes. Bicycles are available for rent at various park entrances, such as Station As Terhills or Kattevennen, so you don't necessarily need to bring your own. The cycling experience at Kikmolen is not only beautiful because of its natural and panoramic character, but also because of its accessibility. It's close to amenities such as campsites and restaurants, including a brasserie and parking facilities at the campsite itself. This makes the route part of a day trip or a longer visit to the park, with opportunities to explore other cycling or hiking routes, such as those along mine spoil tips or through forests and water features within the national park.

The headframe in the Hoge Kempen National Park is a powerful and recognizable symbol of Belgian Limburg's mining history. This steel structure, once located above a mine shaft, served to operate elevators with which miners transported materials and coal deep underground. Today, the headframe no longer serves the industry but serves as a monument and landmark in a landscape that has reinvented itself as a nature reserve. Within the National Park, including in the area around Eisden Waterschei and Zwartberg, headframes form a striking contrast with the surrounding heathland, forests, and slag heaps. Where noise, dust, and hard labor once defined the landscape, peace and tranquility now prevail. The headframe serves as a quiet reminder of the thousands of miners who descended into the earth here daily, keeping the region's economic engine running in the 20th century. Architecturally, headframes are functional structures constructed of steel and designed for maximum stability and load-bearing capacity. Their sleek lines and industrial appearance give them an almost sculptural quality today. That's precisely why several headframes have been protected as industrial heritage and consciously integrated into the experience of the National Park. They serve as landmarks along hiking and cycling routes and help visitors read the landscape; nature and industry are inextricably linked here. In educational contexts, headframes are often used to tell the story of coal mining, labor migration, and Limburg's social history. They symbolize an era of hard labor, but also of solidarity, community, and progress. By preserving them within a nature park, that past is given a new place, not as a scar, but as a layer in the landscape.

Old coal winding towers near Maasmechelen

Beautiful view over the surroundings

A ride on the little train is a wonderful surprise for all ages. And those who want and are able can climb the tower, where a magnificent view of the former coal-mining region awaits.

St. Barbara's Church is the parish church of Eisden-Tuinwijk in Eisden and a so-called mining cathedral. The church was built after the Eisden coal mine was constructed and put into production in 1923, leading to the construction of several towns under the name Eisden-Tuinwijk. These were located west of the Zuid-Willemsvaart canal. This led to a sharp population increase, creating the need for a new church. Brussels architect Auguste Vanden Nieuwenborg designed a monumental church in the Brick Expressionist style, incorporating Gothic elements such as pointed arch windows. The stained-glass windows in the choir are inspired by those of Chartres Cathedral. The church, with its plump 53-meter-high tower, was built from 1934 to 1936. It is a three-aisled cruciform church. The church furnishings are almost entirely post-1945, but the organ dates from 1939 and was built by the Delmotte studio in Tournai. The Stations of the Cross are made of black marble in bas-relief, and in 1960, sculptor Mailleux created several statues. The Saint Barbara statue on the facade dates from 1982. The church is surrounded by various related buildings, such as schools, a monastery, and a parish center. Source: Wikipedia

The 'Chapel for All Peoples' was unfortunately not accessible when we passed by.