The best walks and hikes around Wellen

Almost in the center of Wellen lies the Broekbeemd nature reserve. When Limburgs Landschap vzw started there together with the local association ’t Bokje, many areas were heavily overgrown and/or planted with poplars. In 1992, the first Limburg grazing project with Scottish Highland cattle was started, making the vegetation more varied. Gradually, the poplar stands are being transformed into a mosaic landscape with wet grasslands, native copses, small landscape elements, and calcareous fen. That calcareous fen (or alkaline lowland peat) is very rare: the total area in Flanders is only about 10 ha. And Broekbeemd includes a nice piece of it, with many rare plant and animal species such as great fen-sedge, lesser tussock-sedge and Diphryllum. Worth protecting! The water from the numerous springs in the area is collected in a dozen pools and then flows into the old riverbed of the Herk. It goes without saying that all this pure water attracts interesting species. One of the pools was even created especially for the great crested newt.

Hollow roads only occur in hilly regions, like here in Haspengouw. They were created by humans. Farmers used to ride with horse and cart via the shortest connection from the farm to the higher-lying field. Due to the busy use of the unpaved road, the track could hardly grow over and the loosened sand was washed down the slope with every rain shower. This is how the road became increasingly hollowed out.

I was overwhelmed by the beautiful blossoms, also how many plantations on this hike, recommended!

The chapel at Oetersloven is also known as the chapel of the Bokkenrijders (Goat Riders). Jan van Muysen, a clog maker from Wellen, had left a letter of complaint at the farm of Jan Wouters from Ulbeek, demanding a large sum of money, or else his farm would be set on fire. The money was to be placed in a hole near the chapel. Wouters, however, recognized Van Muysen, despite his disguise. Jan van Muysen was arrested as a goat rider on April 1, 1774, and beheaded on June 16 of the same year in the Bonderkuil in Wellen.

John was the only son of a priest who served in the temple in Jerusalem. He was therefore destined to succeed his father, but, neglecting his family and priestly duties, he retreated into the Judean wilderness. Around the year 28, he served as a Jewish prophet north of the Dead Sea, on the banks of the Jordan River. He was considered a holy man and an ascetic. He earned the nickname "the baptizer" because of the striking and unusual ritual he performed: immersion in running water. Even after his death in the early 1830s, John continued to enjoy high regard, apart from his connection with Jesus of Nazareth. John was a charismatic eschatological prophet. He announced impending judgment in a dark and ominous tone: only inner conversion of heart, outward change of lifestyle, and John's baptism could offer protection. Like so many of the sinful people of Israel, Jesus was baptized by John shortly before his own public ministry. John's impact on Jesus continued after his baptism: he remained a disciple of John for a while, recruited his own first disciples from John's circle, and continued the baptismal rite. Some time after Jesus' baptism, Herod Antipas, fearing a rebellion, had John arrested because of his great influence and/or the content of his teachings. He was imprisoned and executed in the fortress of Machaerus, located in the Perea region, which included the eastern bank of the Jordan.

Rullingen Castle (also called Rolengen, Rolenghem, and Ruelingen) is located in the Herk valley in Rullingen, a hamlet of the Belgian town of Borgloon. The oldest known lord of Rullingen was Eggebertus van Rolengen, who witnessed the foundation of Averbode Abbey by his feudal lord, Arnold II van Loon. The medieval fortress was replaced, probably between 1623 and 1638, by a typical Maasland moated castle. It consisted of a U-shaped farmyard and an L-shaped manor house with a projecting square corner tower. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the castle was adapted to the then-current residential standards; a coach house was added. Between 1770 and 1850, an English garden was laid out to the south. In 1912, Knight Pangaert d'Opdorp purchased the castle. The farm behind the castle and a service wing were destroyed by fire in 1920. The building was then thoroughly renovated, a garden was created, and the moats were partially filled in. A new coach house was built using the demolition material. The Provincial Government of Limburg has owned the building since 1978. Until 2013, it was operated as a hotel and restaurant. In 2014, the Province of Limburg sold the castle to NV Livaco in Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe, one of the companies of the project developer Kolmont, owned by the Tans family in Hasselt. A real vineyard has been located on the Rullingen estate for several years now. In May 2005, one hectare of land was set aside for planting. The vineyard consists of 3,000 Pinot Gris vines, 2,000 Pinot Blanc, 600 Pinot Noir (Sankt Laurence), 200 Riesling, and 200 Kerner. The wine from Kasteel van Rullingen is organic. Unlike "regular" wine, which uses chemical agents, the grapes used in organic wine are grown without the use of any chemical products. Artificial fertilizers, highly toxic herbicides, and all chemical insecticides and fungicides are STRICTLY FORBIDDEN in this cultivation. Organic cultivation is therefore 100% environmentally friendly.

Near the center of Wellen lies the Broekbeemd nature reserve. When Limburgs Landschap vzw (Limburg Landscape non-profit organization) started there together with the local association 't Bokje, many areas were heavily overgrown and/or planted with poplars. In 1992, the first grazing project in Limburg with Scottish Highland cattle began there, which has resulted in more diverse vegetation. The poplar stands are gradually being transformed into a mosaic landscape with damp roughs, native woodlands, small landscape elements, and calcareous bog. This calcareous bog (or alkaline fen) is very rare: its total area in Flanders is only about 10 hectares. And Broekbeemd encompasses a beautiful piece of it, with many rare plant and animal species such as the toad rush, scaled sedge, and the tawny emerald damselfly. Definitely worth protecting! The water from the numerous springs in the area is collected in about ten pools and then flows into the old bed of the Herk River. It goes without saying that all this pure water attracts interesting species. One of the pools was even created specifically for the Great Crested Newt.

Near the center of Wellen lies the Broekbeemd nature reserve. When Limburgs Landschap vzw (Limburg Landscape non-profit organization) started there together with the local association 't Bokje, many areas were heavily overgrown and/or planted with poplars. In 1992, the first grazing project in Limburg with Scottish Highland cattle began there, which has resulted in more diverse vegetation. The poplar stands are gradually being transformed into a mosaic landscape with damp roughs, native woodlands, small landscape elements, and calcareous bog. This calcareous bog (or alkaline fen) is very rare: its total area in Flanders is only about 10 hectares. And Broekbeemd encompasses a beautiful piece of it, with many rare plant and animal species such as the toad rush, scaled sedge, and the tawny emerald damselfly. Definitely worth protecting! The water from the numerous springs in the area is collected in about ten pools and then flows into the old bed of the Herk River. It goes without saying that all this pure water attracts interesting species. One of the pools was even created specifically for the Great Crested Newt.