The Bosland near Overpelt

With this route you take a tour through the Lage Kempen in the northern part of Belgian Limburg. The Kempen is a region with sandy soil. Until the mid-nineteenth century, this soil was mainly covered with heath, oaks, fens and bogs. You can still find this varied landscape, albeit on a smaller scale. You will soon cycle through the Pijnven, a former heathland and drifting sand area that was planted with coniferous wood for the production of mining wood from 1904 onwards. In many places you can smell the purifying pine scent. In recent years, deciduous trees have also been planted in parts of the forest. Birds such as the long-eared owl and nightjar live in the forest. Some parts of the forest are not accessible because they have been declared a rest area for animals. Het Pijnven is located in the heart of a larger forest complex, called Bosland. This area of 4,500 hectares is one of the largest forests in Belgium. You cycle through various charming Flemish villages and hamlets, there is always a terrace where a delicious fresh Limburg pie is served. Since 2007, Leopoldsburg has had a real Walk of Fame, a joke to Hollywood. Because relatively many BV\\\'ers - or well-known Flemish people - grew up in Leopoldsburg, they were given their own star in the pavement here. The In den Brand nature reserve is located near Hechtel. Here you cycle through a varied landscape of high dunes, deciduous and coniferous forests. The dunes are one of a kind in Flanders, they are even rare within Europe. So it's worth taking a break and looking around in peace and quiet in what is also called the largest sandbox in Flanders.