The old Belgian mining region: surprisingly green

Get to know the unique region around the Belgian municipality of Heusden-Zolder. Mining once dominated daily life here. The Heusden-Zolder mine slag heap is visible proof of this. This mountain of waste stone towers 85 meters into the air. At the top, a panoramic view and numerous queen pages compete for your attention. The former black gold has been forged into a green diamond in recent years. A beautiful and precious nature reserve has been created around this slag heap with an area of 124 hectares. Several rare birds cross the skies, such as the kingfisher and nightjar.

You drive through the Koerselse Heide and pass the Chapel of Our Lady on the Staak, a place of pilgrimage. According to tradition, a man got lost in this nature reserve in 1826. Because he had nothing left to drink and was in danger of dying, he called upon Saint Mary. And behold, a spring of healing water gushed forth. Out of gratitude, the man placed a stake with a statue of Mary there. A chapel was also built, the choir of which dates from 1833. There is also an eighteenth century Trinity painting. The source still exists, although the water now comes from a tap.

Just past Helchteren you cycle past Ter Dolen Castle, a sixteenth century domain. After the abbots of Sint-Truiden left this castle, the current owners opened the castle gate that had been closed for centuries. This started the success story of their abbey beers. Ter Dolen Donker has been voted the second best Belgian dark abbey beer and even the best in Flanders. So it's worth stopping for a beer or to view the castle!

You climb to the top of the approximately sixty meter high Bolderberg. The Bolderberg is located in a beautiful nature reserve and is covered with a layer of iron sand, boulders and forests. A large part of the hill belongs to Vogelsanck Castle. At the foot of the slope are the Terlaemen ponds, which belong to Terlaemen Castle. At the bottom of the steeply sloping hill you will find areas of wet heath and raised bogs. You drive back to the starting point of the route along the banks of the Albert Canal.