Easy hikes and walks in Vlaams Natuurreservaat Helderbeek-Terril

@jeroen driesen: It's because of this behavior from you cyclists that we keep hearing about "cycling terrorists." The Heusden-Zolder slag heap is a protected nature reserve, and if cycling is prohibited there, there's a good reason for it, and you shouldn't be disrupting nature there!

From November to the end of February annual winter break... we'll have to come back in the summer 😏

🧺 🥐 🥖 🥙 🌯 🥪 🍏 🍐 🧺

Landewald Janssen, a Franciscan Friar Minor, was an adept naturalist in various fields. His numerous publications, including those in De Wielewaal, Natura-Limburg, and in publications of the Limburgs Landschap, dealt with plants, mushrooms, mosses, lichens, insects, and, not least, birds. As a follower of the teachings of Francis of Assisi, he celebrated nature and creation in his lyrical poems, which appeared in various collections. He founded several important Limburg "Ornithological Study Centers," including Wijvenheide, Terlaemen, Kolberg, Ter Donk, Platwijers, Meylandt-Obbeek-Stabroek, Kelchterhoef, and Herkenrodebossen. Thanks to Landewald Janssen's work, these areas received the highest level of protection under the regional plan. Since then, they have partially or largely evolved into fully-fledged nature reserves. Janssen was also the founder of the Limburg Nature Conservation Action (NAL), along with fellow conservationists Gust Claes and René Neven. He would later oversee the protection of the Berkenbosbeek and Galgenberg streams (Heusden-Zolder). Source: https://www.provinciaalnatuurcentrum.be/files/Kennisbank/Avifauna-preview-spreads.pdf

The only remaining mortuary of all the Limburg mines is located on the Zolder mine site. Unfortunately, fatal accidents occurred regularly during mining. This former mortuary was used to store the body of a deceased employee before it could be released for autopsy and burial. When a body was stored in the mortuary, the light was always turned on. This way, the miners knew that one of their comrades had died. A scene created by artist Stefan Elsen is depicted on the back wall of the mortuary. The art installation against the wall of the mortuary consists of a white block of Carrara marble that suggests the table on which the bodies were laid out. The floating body above it gives the impression that it is slowly rising or descending. That hanging body consists of small mirrors. After all, every miner used to have a mirror in his wardrobe, in which he could see whether his face was clean enough to return to his family or loved one. Hundreds of miners (930 in all the Limburg mines) have died in an industrial accident in the mine and have no longer been able to look in a mirror...

The top of the Heusden-Zolder mine spoil tip was rewarded with no less than three landscape stars. The three-star spot is located at an altitude of 155 m above sea level. The top extends 85 meters above the surroundings. More about the Heusden-Zolder mine spoil tip and that top: https://www.visitlimburg.be/nl/wat-te-doen/mijnterril-heusden-zolder

Coal mining in Heusden-Zolder started in 1923 and lasted until 1992. The slag heap is made up of stones that were brought to the surface during coal mining. Over the years, the top has risen to 155m above sea level. Since 1997, it has been a Flemish nature reserve. Sheep are used for the nature management of the slag heap and the adjacent heathland. By grazing, they ensure a firm grass mat and prevent the growth of trees. This is necessary to prevent erosion. The slopes on the south side of the slag heap have their own microclimate, which is why many rare plant and animal species find their home here.

The slag heaps rise more than a hundred metres above the landscape and are therefore the ideal places to get an aerial view of the green, wooded Limburg. The view of the slag heap of Heusden-Zolder is so phenomenal that this spot has been awarded three landscape stars.