The pleasant surroundings of Arcen

Forests, heaths, river dunes, fens and meadows... cycling across the Looierheide and through the Broekhuizerbroek you will come across a colorful palette of natural beauty. Special plants, a great diversity of mushrooms and many species of birds can be found in this picturesque part of Limburg. The Looierheide owes its name to the large amount of oak coppice that used to be won here. Its husk was used to extract tannin with which tanneries manufactured their products, while the oak wood was fired in the ovens of bakeries. The Broekhuizerbroek stretches out on the other side of the Maas. The old Maas meanders provide a unique piece of nature in the Netherlands, and it is therefore a much wetter area than the Looierheide. Moist grasslands, marshes and marshes, but also peat-filled lakes stretch out in front of you here, varying in height and vegetation. Seepage waters arise in the lower lying areas. In the middle of the meander is a high shifting sand emergence called De Hondsberg. Halfway through the tour you will pass castle farm De Gun. On the edge of an old Maas meander, this beautiful building stands proudly on the edge of a high terrace. The moat around the former castle is still partly visible. Note the details, such as the beautiful brickwork under the eaves.