A tour of nature in the Kempen

Your cycle route starts at Hotel Restaurant Steensel. From here you cycle to the village of Duizel, one of the eight villages that belong to the Beatitudes of the Kempen. The Eight Beatitudes are said to owe their nickname to the Dutch soldiers who were billeted here during the Belgian Revolution around 1830 and found the region to be poor: they called it the Armzaligheden. The area around Hoogeloon has been inhabited since the Iron Age, as evidenced by finds. In 1827, excavations revealed Roman remains, among other things. Then you cycle through the Buikheide. The conifers and American oaks were once planted for logging. The Oirschotse Heide is a large heathland and drifting sand area, which is used as a military training ground. The site is usually freely accessible during the day.