Top 20 Lakes around Mol

Mol is home to several popular lakes. Zilvermeer is a well-known provincial park with white sand beaches, ideal for swimming and sunbathing. Another notable spot is Lommel Sahara, a unique nature reserve featuring sand dunes and clear blue lakes. Visitors also appreciate Devil's Pit Pond, a nature reserve with a characteristic Kempen landscape.

Yes, several lakes offer family-friendly activities. Zilvermeer is particularly well-suited for families, featuring an extensive outdoor playground, go-karting, and water slides. The white sand beaches are perfect for children to play. Lommel Sahara is also considered family-friendly, offering unique landscapes for exploration.

The lakes around Mol boast diverse natural features. Lommel Sahara is famous for its striking sand dunes and clear blue lakes, resembling a miniature desert. Put van Rauw is notable for its four artificial floating islands, designed to enrich biodiversity and provide habitat for rare species like the black tern. The area also features heathland, fens, and various forests, as seen around Devil's Pit Pond.

Swimming is permitted in some lakes. Zilvermeer is ideal for swimming and sunbathing with its clear lake and white sand beaches. Zilverstrand also offers an outdoor lake with a white sand beach, and an indoor swimming pool. However, swimming is prohibited in Lommel Sahara due to potential cold spots in the water.

The Mol lakes region offers a variety of outdoor activities. You can enjoy walking and cycling around lakes like Put van Rauw and Ronde Put, which are surrounded by forests. For cycling enthusiasts, there are numerous routes available, including touring bicycle, gravel biking, and road cycling options. You can find more details on routes like 'Around Postel Abbey' or 'Singletrack in the Forest' in the Cycling around Mol guide or the Gravel biking around Mol guide.

Yes, there are excellent viewpoints. The Lommelse Sahara Observation Tower offers a panoramic view of the Sahara, ponds, and surrounding forests. From its 30-meter height, you can see up to 25 km on a clear day. Ronde Put Nature Reserve also features viewpoints and bird watching huts, allowing visitors to appreciate the extensive nature.

Put van Rauw is unique for its ecological richness and artificial floating islands. Created from sand extraction, it's one of Flanders' largest inland lakes. The four artificial floating islands were constructed to ecologically enrich the area and provide a unique habitat for rare species, such as the black tern. It's also part of the 'Stille Kempen' (Quiet Kempen) region, offering a beautiful environment for walking and cycling.

Yes, there are camping options available. Zilvermeer Provincial Park offers a four-star campsite with traditional tent pitches, hiking huts, and even raft camping (though raft camping was unavailable in 2021). Most pitches provide amenities like water, electricity, and sewerage. Zilverstrand also features a caravan park, making it suitable for overnight stays.

Zilvermeer is open daily from 8:30 to 21:00. Day visits are free during the off-peak season, specifically from October to March. This period might be ideal for those looking to enjoy the park's natural beauty without entry fees, though some facilities might have reduced hours.

The Kristalpad is a walking route that leads along one of Flanders' largest inland lakes, offering impressive views of the Molse Meren area. It is associated with the Ronde Put, which is part of this extensive network of lakes, ponds, and canals known for its harmonious blend of nature and water.

The history of The Groot Pannegoor dates back to the early 20th century when Baron de Cartier de Marchienne created a series of ponds with regulated water levels. This regulation was primarily for snipe hunting; the water level was lowered in September to create mudflats where snipes would forage. Today, it's appreciated for its beautiful bike paths and heather landscapes.

Yes, the Mol area is rich in nature reserves. Lommel Sahara is a 200-hectare nature reserve known for its unique sandy plains and diverse ecosystems. Devil's Pit Pond is a 16-hectare reserve showcasing a characteristic Kempen landscape with heathland, fens, and various forests. Additionally, Ronde Put Nature Reserve covers 169 hectares, featuring open water, reed land, marshland, and coniferous forest.