Top 10 Caves around Hoeselt

The marl caves of Heers are an important hibernation site for numerous bats, including the Bechstein's bat, the Notched Bat, and the Pond Bat. Bat-friendly barriers were installed at the entrances to the caves. In 2014, the Waterkuil was closed off with a steel gate, in which bat silhouettes serve as flight openings. This elegant barrier was designed by Heers artist Frans Vandueren. Initial winter counts already showed that the gate is having an effect.

The Lourdes grotto was built in 1946 during the celebration of the village's centennial. A prayer vigil is still held at the grotto every Thursday in May.

The Lourdes grotto is located at the intersection between the Glaaierweg and a field path. The grotto has been beautifully restored. There are benches, flowers and candles. It is probably a work by Janssen from Westmeerbeek, given the text under Maria: que – soy era immaculada – concepcion. On the right you see an old pulpit. There are also many memorial plaques. On the other side of the street there is an additional covered place to pray. Beautiful resting place, it was consecrated in 1942 on the occasion of 100 years of parish. The grotto shows various thank you plaques from the war years 1943 and 1944.

The Coolen or the Kuilen is a medium-sized marl cave with a network of tunnels of about one kilometre. In contrast to the larger quarries of Zichen and Zussen, the Coolen was a 'farmer's quarry' from which the owners or families extracted marl when the need arose. Since 1988, the quarry has served as a bat reserve.

This Lourdes grotto is located along a field street, a side street of the Hoogstraat, starting next to house no. 18. It is a beautiful Lourdes grotto from 1943 with a pond, many flowers, candles, benches... The bushes are planted in a heart shape. According to Isabelle Lapière (granddaughter of cave builder Janssens) this grotto used to be owned by the Wagemans family, also owners of the brickworks next to the grotto. This must now move to the Industrial Estate. The grotto will continue to be maintained by the local residents.

It is a bit of a mystical place there in Vechmaal. Located along a quiet walking path, you suddenly notice a deep pit, with three entrances to caves, marl caves in fact, shielded with artistic metal plates containing openings in bat profiles, designed by architect Frans Vandueren. No coincidence. Because these caves provide access to the remains of a 90 million year old sea and are particularly suitable as a hibernation site for bats, one of the most important in our region. So rest is requested. This does not mean that you cannot visit them at certain times.

At this junction we were pleasantly surprised by a small pilgrimage site. A Maria cave with benches and chairs.

You can find this former underground quarry via "ordinary maps". Although there are no prohibition signs anywhere, it is not really on the hiking trail and it is not indicated by signs or anything (it is also about 20 meters from this exact spot). The environment does not seem very stable, although you do see that occasionally people walk through the tall grass to the bush that stands on and around it. In any case: it is a former flint quarry that was used for marl in a later period. By the way, you will still find marl in the deep sunken roads during your walk. Speaking of that flint or flint: prehistoric objects made of flint were found in Rukkelingen. Finally: in Bassenge and Wonk there are still former underground marl and flint quarries. The Grotte des Gofettes has several entrances and exits and has clearly been used as a kind of dumping ground for agricultural equipment and other waste.