Reekseheide through Zeeland and Beers

The Reekse Heide or Reeksche Heide is a nature reserve of 465 hectares located between Schaijk, Reek, Velp and Langenboom. It consists mainly of drifting sand, coniferous forests and heath remnants. The area is used as a military training area by the Ministry of Defense and is partly cordoned off. Some military buildings have also been built here. The heath had been used for that purpose before; In 1850 it was also used as a shooting range for the garrison stationed in nearby Grave. Nature makes the area extremely suitable for this, because the drifting dunes can be used as bullet catchers. The Reekse Bergen, which borders the Reekse heath, is freely accessible and not a military area.

The Coppens mill is eight hundred meters away from Hap en Stap. The mill is a combination of the belt mill and upper porter type and was probably built in 1883 to grind grain using wind power. Many parts of a post mill that previously stood at this location have been used for the new Coppensmolen. In the mill, which underwent restorations in 1983 and 2008, two pairs of seventeenth-century artificial stones can be found, with which grain is still milled on a voluntary basis.

Five kilometers further on, De Hellemolen dominates the landscape. The white belt mill from 1832 has a turbulent past. It was built to replace a burnt-out post mill. In addition to milling corn, it was home to a café at some point. Later a restaurant opened its doors in the mill. Due to a standstill, the entire interior except the top wheel was removed from the mill, and decay took hold of the mill.

The Bergzicht mill (built in 1817) is also worth taking a moment to consider, when it suddenly appears on your path between the trees. The mill takes its name from the former view of the Mookse Berg, which is now covered by trees that ensure that the mill stands as a surprise on your way. The belt mill, which still grinds corn using wind power, is the only existing pure octagonal mill in Brabant. Anyone who is curious about the interior can visit the mill, which is kept running by volunteers, on the first and third Thursday of every month.

The last sight on the route is also a mill: De Dageraad. Like the first mill on the route, it is a belt mill and an upper mill, built in 1832 with the aim of grinding grain using wind power. This mill also contains a pair of seventeen artificial stones that are used to grind grain on a voluntary basis. De Dageraad can be visited by the public on Saturday mornings.