Nature Reserve Guide
Natuurreservaat Eksterheide En Omgeving is a nature reserve situated between Beerse and Rijkevorsel, offering a diverse landscape for outdoor pursuits. This area features a mix of heathlands, pine and evolving deciduous forests, fens, and open sand dunes, providing varied terrain for exploration. The ongoing ecological restoration efforts enhance the natural environment, making it suitable for several sports like hiking, mountain biking, road cycling, jogging, and more.
Natuurreservaat Eksterheide En Omgeving provides a…
139
Routes
4.3
(807)
Average rating
7689
People visited

4.6
(234)
905
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(44)
288
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(45)
185
hikers
15.1km
03:48
20m
20m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(173)
580
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.2
(30)
614
riders
58.9km
03:42
80m
80m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.6
(31)
888
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(17)
83
riders
16.4km
01:05
20m
20m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
58
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
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4.8
(4)
505
riders
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(1)
139
riders
73.2km
03:16
100m
100m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.0
(1)
109
riders
84.4km
03:38
100m
100m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(2)
72
riders
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4.3
(3)
47
riders
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.3
(4)
117
riders
41.1km
02:49
50m
50m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
52
riders
57.3km
03:39
80m
80m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.9
(7)
130
riders
59.9km
03:15
80m
80m
Hard gravel ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
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4.9
(11)
73
riders
52.7km
03:12
70m
70m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

72
riders
Hard bike ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

3.4
(5)
45
riders
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.5
(2)
35
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(1)
78
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.0
(1)
76
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

25
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

17
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Natuurreservaat Eksterheide En Omgeving offers a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, mountain biking, road cycling, jogging, gravel biking, and touring cycling. The reserve features a diverse landscape of heathlands, forests, fens, and sand dunes. More than 100 routes are available across these sports.
Popular hiking trails include the Duivelskuil Pond – Eksterheide Boardwalk loop from Duivelskuil, which is about 5.1 miles (8.3 km) long. Another option is the Colony - Eastern Rampart – Open hay barns Kolonie 5-7 loop, spanning approximately 7.8 miles (12.5 km). For more options, consult the Hiking in Natuurreservaat Eksterheide En Omgeving guide.
Yes, Natuurreservaat Eksterheide En Omgeving offers easy hiking trails. An example is the Het Blak bird hide – Pond in the Blakheide loop, which is about 4.3 miles (7.0 km) long and rated easy. The Easy hikes in Natuurreservaat Eksterheide En Omgeving guide provides additional options.
Mountain biking routes include the Lilse Bergen Singletrack – Achtzaligheden Tree loop, approximately 29.4 miles (47.3 km) long. Another option is the Gravel Bike Path – Merksplas Colony loop, which covers about 36.4 miles (58.6 km). More trails can be found in the MTB Trails in Natuurreservaat Eksterheide En Omgeving guide.
Road cycling routes are available, such as the Border Marker 218 – Nieuwe Strumpt Road loop, which is about 43.0 miles (69.2 km) long. The Bike Path Along the River Mark – Kernweg loop offers a 45.5-mile (73.2 km) ride. Additional routes are detailed in the Road Cycling Routes in Natuurreservaat Eksterheide En Omgeving guide.
The reserve features heathlands, pine and deciduous forests, fens, and open sand dunes. Visitors can observe various wildlife, including water birds, deer, hawks, and black woodpeckers. Three observation huts are available for wildlife spotting, including amphibians like the natterjack toad and insects such as the field cricket.
The heathlands in Natuurreservaat Eksterheide En Omgeving are particularly vibrant when they bloom purple in August. This period offers a visually distinct experience. The diverse landscape provides opportunities for outdoor activities throughout the year.
Routes in Natuurreservaat Eksterheide En Omgeving have an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars from more than 500 ratings. Over 7,000 visitors have explored the area using komoot. This indicates a generally positive experience among outdoor enthusiasts.
Yes, komoot offers several guides for the area, including Hiking in Natuurreservaat Eksterheide En Omgeving, MTB Trails in Natuurreservaat Eksterheide En Omgeving, and Road Cycling Routes in Natuurreservaat Eksterheide En Omgeving. Other guides cover easy hikes, running trails, gravel biking, and attractions within the reserve.
Official information about Natuurreservaat Eksterheide En Omgeving can be found on the Agentschap Natuur en Bos website. The local forest ranger, Luc Van Assche, can be contacted at 0477 42 91 54 for more specific inquiries. The general contact number for the municipality of Beerse is 014 68 80 80.
Natuurreservaat Eksterheide En Omgeving provides several jogging routes. The Duivelskuil loop from Vlimmeren is a popular choice, approximately 6.0 miles (9.6 km) long. Another option is the Colony - Eastern Rampart – Merksplas Colony loop, covering about 7.7 miles (12.3 km). More routes are available in the Running Trails in Natuurreservaat Eksterheide En Omgeving guide.
Yes, gravel biking routes are available, such as The Zwart Water – Warandeplas loop, which is approximately 54.5 miles (87.8 km) long. Another option is the Ossenweg Gravel Path – Gravel Bike Path loop, covering about 32.5 miles (52.3 km). The Gravel biking in Natuurreservaat Eksterheide En Omgeving guide provides further details.
The terrain in Natuurreservaat Eksterheide En Omgeving is diverse, featuring vast heathlands, pine forests, and evolving deciduous forests. It also includes fens, nutrient-poor grasslands, and open sand dunes. Some paths are easily accessible, while others may be unpaved and require sturdy footwear, especially during wetter periods.

