The Dommel Valley in Belgian Limburg

Explore the Lage Kempen, through which the Warmbeek and the Dommel flow. Meadows and marshes form large areas of contiguous nature, but trees also rise high on dry sandy soils. The Kolisbos south of Sint-Huibrechts-Lille is one of the most important of these. Beautiful country houses and luxury villas adorn the area and always manage to elicit cries of admiration from you, due to their beautiful location in nature. Coniferous and deciduous forests dominate the east of Neerglabbeek. Hair moss, grasses and heather bushes grow on the sandy, partly moist soils. Because sand extraction took place on a large scale here, the Dorperheide lakes are wedged between high dunes that are overgrown with trees. On the banks you can see rush and willows sprouting and reed strips with bulrush. Mullein and St. John's wort also bloom there. The diversity on the Dorperheide is therefore great and the animal world also benefits from this. The sand martin is a frequently seen guest, the attentive cyclist will be able to see its own dug holes, where it breeds in colonies. The reed bunting hides between the reeds and willow thickets and common teals breed on the islands in the ponds. The surrounding forest plots consist mainly of Scots and Corsican pine and Douglas fir, with at their feet crooked hair grass, climbing corydalis and broad prickly fern. In addition to beautiful nature, you will also come across a beautiful watermill along the way. According to some sources, there was already a mill on this spot in the eighth century. If they are right, De Wedelse Molen in Overpelt is the oldest watermill that grinds on the Dommel, and probably even the oldest watermill in the Benelux, although this has never been supported by archaeological evidence. De Wedelse Molen was rebuilt in 1765, when the current building was placed. The lock, the bank reinforcement and the mill are a protected monument and the area is a protected village view. This way the authenticity of the mill is preserved. The route starts and ends at Cafe De Bazaar. This trendy cafe is a cozy place for young and old. At the weekend the house photographer takes nice pictures of the people who'go to the cafe\\\', as the Belgians say. You can check the last details of your route before departure, because there is free wifi. And of course you can have a nice drink at Den Bazaar when you return from your bike ride!