Top 20 Lakes around Keerbergen

Two pools that have been dug and furnished for amphibians, and the crested newt in particular, in a beautiful setting. For young and old who are not familiar with the crested newt, there is an information board and a large wooden sculpture of a crested newt on a small wooden platform that stands on and slightly over one of the pools, which you can reach via a winding wooden path. There is also a bench and it is usually quiet there. More nature? The nature trail takes you not only along this pool full of life, but also through the Lombaarden nature reserve, the Wilde Heide and the Antitankgracht. You start at the Lombaarden car park and walk 5.5 kilometers to be precise. See https://www.haacht.be/natuurleerpad-5-5-km Sometimes the sheep graze there, but then the passage is usually closed off for a while.

Nice view and lots of nature.

Mispeldonk Nature Reserve is a beautiful and valuable nature reserve in Bonheiden, located in the province of Antwerp. The area is known for its unique ecosystems, rich biodiversity and the natural beauty of the landscape. Here are some key points about Mispeldonk: Location and Size Mispeldonk is located between Bonheiden and the nearby municipality of Rijmenam, along the banks of the Dijle. The area is part of the larger Dijle landscape, which is known for its wet meadows, meandering waterways and rich flora and fauna. Mispeldonk covers approximately 50 hectares and consists of a mix of marshlands, meadows, forests and ponds. Ecological Importance Mispeldonk is a protected nature reserve because of its special ecological value. The area has a typical structure of a flood plain of the Dijle, which makes it an important habitat for many plant and animal species: • Flora: Various rare and protected plant species grow in the area, such as marsh marigolds, cuckoo flowers and water violets. The wet grasslands and marshes provide unique vegetation that is less common elsewhere in the region. • Fauna: Mispeldonk is an important habitat for birds such as the bluethroat, water rail and reed warbler. Amphibians such as the crested newt and the green frog can also be found there. Furthermore, the area is rich in insects, including butterflies and dragonflies, that thrive in the moist environment. Water management The nature reserve plays an important role in local water management. It is located in a flood-prone area along the Dijle and functions as a natural buffer against flooding. In the event of high water levels, the area can collect water and thus help prevent flooding in nearby villages. The nature reserve contributes to the preservation of water quality by filtering and purifying the water through natural processes. Recreation and Experience Mispeldonk is a popular place for nature lovers and hikers. The area is accessible via various hiking trails that lead through the meadows and forests. There are signposted routes that give walkers the chance to explore the diversity of the landscape and enjoy the peace and quiet of nature. Birdwatchers enjoy visiting the area because of the variety of bird species that can be seen, especially during the breeding season and the migratory bird periods. Management and Protection The nature reserve is managed by Natuurpunt, a Belgian organisation that is committed to nature conservation. Natuurpunt carries out management work to protect biodiversity and maintain the landscape. This includes mowing grasslands, removing invasive plant species and maintaining the walking paths. There is collaboration with local farmers for nature-friendly agriculture, whereby meadows are extensively grazed or mowed, so that they remain suitable for meadow birds and rare plants.

The Ter Heide domain, better known as 'De Plas van Rotselaar', was created in 1975 after sand extraction for the construction of the E314. The domain of approximately 23 hectares is divided into different zones, each with its own access road and specific recreational options: swimming, surfing, paddle boarding and fishing. Each zone has its own parking lot. More at https://www.toerismevlaamsbrabant.be/producten/Visits/bezienswaardeheden/domein-ter-heide--plas-van-rotselaar/

The Vorsdonkbos and Turfputten nature reserve owes its water wealth to the witness hills Eikelberg and Ijzerberg (and others). The water that penetrates the soil on those hills finds its way through the subsoil and bubbles up much later at the foot of the steep hills. Masses of particularly pure "seepage water" end up in Vordonkbos and Turfputten, almost the lowest point in the entire Hageland. However, the history of this area is not only linked to those hills, but especially to the Demer that hugged the Eikelberg in prehistoric times. Ultimately, this once mighty river took a different course about 10,000 years ago. It itself cut a large river bend or "meander" in the middle and now flows almost two kilometers further north. In the meander left behind, remains of aquatic and marsh plants accumulated and formed a peat layer up to 3 meters thick. Another result of the Demer's erratic behavior is the "donks". Sand that was scoured away by the water elsewhere formed sandbanks and river dunes here. The area owes part of its name to those donkens. "Donk" is a sandy and dry surface in a swamp area. "Vors" stands for the water-loving frog and "peat pits" refers to the old peat extraction sites that we mainly find in the east of the area. More at https://www.natuurpunt.be/natuurgebied/vorsdonkbos-turfputten

The Vorsdonkbos (and Turfputten) nature reserve is located in the Demer Valley, on the border of Gelrode and Betekom. It is bordered by the Leuven-Aarschot railway line in the south, the Nieuwland industrial area in the east, the Gelrode-Betekom road in the west, and the Demer in the north. The Demer Valley itself is also on a border. The sandy Zuiderkempen and the more loamy Hageland meet in the Demervallei. That is why the Vorsdonkbos and Turfputten nature reserve can benefit from both vineyards and this has led to a beautiful variety of biotopes: from wet hay meadows and blue grasslands, to sandy dunes with old forests and even small areas of heathland. More at https://www.natuurpunt.be/natuurgebied/vorsdonkbos-turfputten

The Vorsdonk - Turputten landscape is of exceptional importance for the study and knowledge of the formation, evolution and geomorphology of the Demer and the Flemish valley as a whole, because it is part of a pattern of incised paleo-meanders. The abandoned meander of Vorsdonk-Turputten differs in shape and dimensions not only from the numerous denominations of free meanders present in the valley, but also from the incised late-glacial meanders along the lower reaches of the Dijle. The pronounced abiotic variation and the location of the area at the crossroads between different plant geographical districts results in an exceptional floristic richness for Flanders: approximately 425 species of vascular plants, including a large number of rare to very rare species from vulnerable and highly endangered vegetation types, such as nutrient-poor , wet meadows, swamps and alder swamps. The latter in particular are considered one of the best preserved in Flanders. The vegetation mosaics attract a diverse fauna. Most species are dependent on swamp and wetland conditions and are therefore endangered. More at https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/indicationsobjecten/417

The area contains an important but vulnerable soil archive, especially traces from the Stone Age and old peat pits with associated outcrop patterns. In the northwestern part there is also Ter Rivieren castle, first mentioned in 1197 and possibly containing traces of feudal times. More at https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/indicationsobjecten/417