Over the border to Borkel and Schaft

This route takes you through the green border region between North Brabant and Belgian Limburg. You cycle from Overpelt to Borkel through the valley of the Dommel. This stream was once an important river, it was probably sailed on in Roman times. Due to human intervention, the Dommel meandered and watered down into a stream. The source of the Dommel is located at an altitude of 77 meters on the Kempen plateau in Belgian Limburg. The Dommel flows through a number of nature reserves that you cycle through on this route. One of these areas is De Plateaux-Hageven. This Dutch-Belgian nature reserve covers more than 500 hectares, of which 350 hectares are on Dutch territory. The area partly consists of flow meadows planted with poplars. Conifers and heather grow on the higher parts. An alpine seed mixture was once sown in the Belgian part to develop the hay meadows. That is why you can still see extremely rare plants such as autumn crocus. In the villages of Borkel and Schaft you can see some monumental Kempen long gable farms from the eighteenth century. In Borkel is also the Sint Antonius Abt, a windmill from 1865. You then cycle back to Overpelt through the agricultural and wooded landscape. Just like in Brabant, you experience that typical southern conviviality here. And the Burgundian slant: there is always a terrace where a delicious fresh Limburg flan is served.