The best family-friendly hikes and walks in Molenheide

nice piece of grass path in the Kamperland nature reserve

one of the few flowers I found along the road today Sept25

Papschotven completely dry on 25.09.25 due to a low groundwater level

At the edge of the Papschotven fen lies an avenue of bizarrely shaped trees. Their trunks and branches grow not in straight lines, but rather in wild, twisted forms, giving the landscape a fairytale-like atmosphere. Through the trees, you have a view of the fen, which can fill with water during wet periods, but can disappear completely during dry spells. The combination of the winding trees and the open expanse of the fen makes this a unique and photogenic part of the Kempenland.

The Papschotven is normally a tranquil pool nestled in the woods and heathland of the Kempenland region. But during my walk, I encountered a different scene: the fen had dried up completely, with no trace of water visible. The empty fen left only sand and poor soil behind, a sign that the groundwater level here has dropped significantly. The wide paths around the fen lead through a landscape in flux. Wooded areas are being transformed, creating more open sand drifts and heathlands that reflect the region's ancient character. It feels like an area where nature is changing, partly due to human intervention and the changing climate. It is precisely this diversity that makes this place special: from open heathland to woodlands and the tranquil basin of the fen, now dry but once again forming a reflective fen in wetter times. This walk reveals how dynamic the landscape is here – sometimes surprising, sometimes confronting.

This walk through the Kempenland region demonstrates how nature development and restoration have received a new impetus in recent years thanks to the LIFE Nardus & Limosa project. This European project focuses on the conservation and restoration of valuable heathlands and wet grasslands, with a special focus on two species: the Nardus grasslands (with their unique, species-rich vegetation) and the Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa), the iconic meadow bird that is emblematic of this landscape. During the walk, you'll experience how the area is slowly returning to a more open and varied landscape. Pine plantings are being removed to create space for heathland and sand drifts. Old fens and wet grasslands are being restored, giving nature greater resilience and allowing unique plants and animals to return. The wide paths lead you through forests undergoing transformation, past open heathlands, and areas where water and sand are reshaping the landscape. With a bit of luck, you'll see meadow birds, dragonflies, or other species benefiting from the restoration. This route demonstrates how nature management and cultural history intersect: the Kempenland region was once a land of poor sandy soils and vast heathlands. Thanks to projects like LIFE Nardus & Limosa, this unique landscape is regaining its former glory and being preserved for the future.

The Rovertkapel is a chapel near the Belgian town of Hulsel, northeast of Poppel and close to the Belgian-Dutch border. Here, near Border Post 209, the Rovertse Leij also flows into the Netherlands. From 1643 until just after 1672, a border church for the residents of Hilvarenbeek was located on the site of the chapel. It is a whitewashed square building with flattened corners and a baroque-looking dome. In the chapel is a painting by Sister Augustina da Porta, depicting the incident with the flock of sheep. Nowadays, the chapel is a resting place and a junction of various walking and cycling routes.

@frank: this is still the current border between the Netherlands and Belgium, so not the ‘former border’ as you write…