4.5
(11)
54
hikers
Boardwalk De Krekelbeek – Pond on the Kesselse Heath loop from Provinciaal Groendomein Kesselse Heide
01:24
5.53km
10m
Hiking
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.
Last updated: May 16, 2026
Waypoints
Start point
Parking
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423 m
Krekelbeek Boardwalk and Wetlands
Highlight • Trail
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531 m
Boardwalk De Krekelbeek
Highlight • Trail
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674 m
Krekelse meadows
Highlight • Forest
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871 m
Information board De Kleine Netevallei
Highlight • Rest Area
The nature reserve consists of a number of areas along the Kleine Nete, such as the Steenbeemden and the Viersels Gebroekt. Where the Grote Nete and the Kleine Nete reach Lier, one finds the Nazareth-Zuid area, which covers 40 ha. The areas are managed by Natuurpunt.
For a long time, there were floodplains along the Kleine Nete, to increase the yield of the hay meadows present there. In 1952, the Kleine Nete was canalized and the Netekanaal was constructed. The meadows lost their characteristic character. From 1985 onwards, attempts were made to restore biodiversity through purchase and protection.
Source: Wikipedia
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1.38 km
Kessel Heath
Highlight • Natural
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1.81 km
Pond on the Kesselse Heath
Highlight • Lake
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2.60 km
Kesselse Heath
Highlight • Forest
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2.68 km
Ridge-and-Furrow Forest
Highlight • Forest
What does that have to do with this area? Well, there's an information board about a rabatten forest here, and the method was used quite extensively.
And that's how it happened: Empress Maria Theresa of Austria wanted the heathland to be fully afforested with Scots pine under her rule. So much so that the Kempen farmers who left their heathland unused had to pay higher taxes and potentially lose their land.
They would and had to dig ditches, rabatten, and plant - although they often dug and raised trees to avoid fines instead of actually planting pine. Because those farmers weren't keen on doing that anyway: the heathland was productive, for example, through flocks of sheep and honey production.
You can read more on this information board and see it on-site, as you would in many other forests in the Kempen region, including Limburg.
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5.53 km
End point
Parking
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
2.62 km
2.31 km
602 m
Surfaces
2.71 km
1.32 km
515 m
438 m
322 m
228 m
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Elevation
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Weather
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Friday 29 May
29°C
16°C
51 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 17.0 km/h
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