The best hikes from bus stations in Tungelerwallen

Tip: Shoes (nice weather) or boots (lots of rain) that can get dirty.

Krang is a Low Saxon word meaning contrary, headstrong. The De Krang nature reserve is located south of Swartbroek and covers an area of approximately 300 hectares. The area consists of deciduous and coniferous trees, grassland, and rounded fields. It is a marshy area with numerous ponds inhabited by amphibians, primarily salamanders. The leaves of the woody vegetation and deciduous trees fall to the bottom of the ponds, giving the water a blackish cast. Source: https://www.dorpsraad-swartbroek.nl/bezienswaardigheid/natuurgebied-de-krang/

Krang is a Low Saxon word meaning contrary, headstrong. The De Krang nature reserve is located south of Swartbroek and covers an area of approximately 300 hectares. The area consists of deciduous and coniferous trees, grassland, and rounded fields. It is a marshy area with numerous ponds inhabited by amphibians, primarily salamanders. The leaves of the woody vegetation and deciduous trees fall to the bottom of the ponds, giving the water a blackish cast. Source: https://www.dorpsraad-swartbroek.nl/bezienswaardigheid/natuurgebied-de-krang/

When you think of a windmill, you usually picture a smock mill. But smock mills are rare in Limburg. There are only two, and one of them is located in Weerterland: De Hoop mill. And then you have to consider that for most of its existence, the mill had no smock at all. De Hoop mill is located on the northeastern edge of the Weert parish of Swartbroek. With a smock height of 7.50 meters, the mill clearly towers above the surrounding residential areas. The mill is unique in Limburg for several reasons. As mentioned, it is one of only two smock mills in the province. Furthermore, it is a wooden, octagonal mill. Elsewhere in the Netherlands, the octagonal mill is one of the most common, but in Limburg there are only four of them. The combination of a wooden octagon and a smock is itself unique in Limburg. The mill has stood in the parish of Swartbroek since 1905, but the mill itself is much older. De Hoop Mill even has a history of almost 250 years, built in 1788 in Delfshaven and later operating as a hulling mill in Vlaardingen. A solid Dutch mill, indeed. But how did this structure end up in Central Limburg? At the end of the 19th century, the mill in Vlaardingen had to be demolished and was put up for sale for demolition. This was precisely the time when miller Antoon Weekers from Swartbroek began considering a windmill operation. The village's watermill had already been demolished in 1880, and the village no longer had a corn mill. Weekers bought the parts of this smock mill and converted them into his grain mill in 1905. Initially, the mill was rebuilt in Swartbroek as a belt mill, without the smock. In 1923, the mill came into the hands of baker-miller Johannes Wilhelmus Roelofsen. In the 1950s, the mill became the property of Franciscus Albertus Munster, who had it thoroughly restored. The mill ran for another six months to everyone's satisfaction, but then problems arose. It came to a standstill, part of the belt was excavated for the construction of a shed, and the fencing was removed from the sails. During the next restoration in 1987, the mill was restored to its former glory as a smock mill by the Weert mill builders Adriaens. Source and more information: https://www.molensinweert.nl/dehoopswartbroek

The pond is situated between two gates. From the gate closest to the village, you can follow a path with a gate that leads you between two smaller ponds towards the village edge of Swartbroek.

Don't forget to walk to the birdwatching screen via the boardwalk.

De Hoop Mill in Swartbroek The mill is owned by the Adriaens Brothers Mill Foundation, which manages and maintains the mill. Thanks to subsidies from the national government, the Province of Limburg, and the Municipality of Weert, along with the efforts of the mill foundation's members, the mill is once again in optimal condition, guaranteeing its continued existence for many years to come. Essential to the mill's good condition is the almost daily professional grinding of various types of flour for consumption. The mill is currently equipped for grinding wheat, rye, and buckwheat. The mill has two pairs of millstones: one is driven by wind and the other by electricity. The mill is located at Coolenstraat 24c in Swartbroek-Weert.

De Krang is a nature reserve located between the Leukerbeek stream to the north and the Tungelroyse Beek stream to the south, although there are also several areas on the other side of the streams. De Krang consists of the Roukespeel and Laagbroek sub-areas. Both peat fens are low-lying basins amidst higher ground. These were once wet, marshy areas avoided by the local population. Later, they were made suitable for agriculture through leveling and drainage. Natuurmonumenten (Dutch Society for Nature Conservation) is working to restore the wetlands here, hoping that valuable plant species native to the area will return. De Krang also consists of deciduous and coniferous forests, coppices, grassland, and old, rounded fields. Due to the differences in elevation and moisture content, a wide variety of plants and animals can be found. From the birdwatching screen at Roukespeelven, you can enjoy watching waterfowl such as grebes and common teals. The Krang is also home to the Ellerschans, a farmers' fort built during the Eighty Years' War for protection against the enemy. The fort was completely reconstructed in 2007. Source and more at https://www.hartvanlimburg.nl/nl/locatie/natuurgebied-de-krang