Dessel, Lommel and Postel

The Kempen extends into Flanders and the southern part of the Netherlands, a beautiful piece of landscape with a rich history. The forests were the territory of smugglers and passage for peddlers. For centuries, farmers tried to earn a living on the sandy soils by toiling and cultivating the land. The area has a dry, sandy soil where heathland, oak forest, fens and peat areas were untouched until the mid-twentieth century. You can still find these landscape elements here, but on a smaller scale, because the area has changed a lot due to heavy fertilization and ribbon development. Nightjars live here, but also reptilian animals, such as a population of slow worms and smooth snakes. Gale shrubs grow on the banks of the streams, and the moor frog and the pin-legged salamander enjoy being near the water. The wetter, swampy parts also attract birds, including the wigeon, pintail duck, tufted duck, whooper swan and bittern. During your cycling tour you will also come near a remote settlement that falls under Lommel. The territory on which Russendorp was built was once owned by the Dutch municipality of Luyksgestel. In 1843 the site was exchanged with Belgium and the Netherlands received part of the Bladelse Heide in return. Afterwards, a small settlement of people arose on the area that had been traded away, who started reclaiming the heathland. They built temporary homes of rush or russet sod, which were also called"Russians\\\". The area was thus named"Russian Village\\\". The route starts at Profile Luc Smets in Dessel. Here you get a 10 euro discount on maintenance and repairs with your bicycle discount pass. So take this opportunity and subject your bike to a little maintenance before you start the route or when you return to the parking lot.