The Hoge Kempen National Park

You cycle through the Hoge Kempen National Park. With a height of 50 to 100 meters, this is the highest part of the Kempen. The landscape here is shaped by the Maas. The soil is made up of boulders that were carried by the river from the Ardennes during the last ice ages. In the east, the Maas has carved out a 60 meter deep valley, so that the area has enormous relief. Grooves have been created in the 30 meter thick gravel layer and the sand beneath it due to sand extraction. This is why this area owes its nickname of 'geological open-air museum'. In August and September the heather in the Hoge Kempen turns a beautiful purple. You will find typical heather birds such as curlew, woodlark and nightjar. Due to the south-facing slopes and the great variety in biotopes, heat-loving insects such as blue-winged locust and queen's page feel at home here, and on the ground and between the bushes the smooth snake, moor frog, natterjack toad and viviparous lizard are looking for tasty snacks. Scan the area from your bike for a glimpse of a deer or keep an eye on the sky for the flight of the hawk.