Tour of Snep and Deurne Canal

Your route starts at Peel Pavilion Onze Stek near Meijel. The village is not only the gateway to the Groote Peel, but is also close to the extensive forests around Heiboem. First you walk towards the Deurne Canal, which you walk along for a while. This canal was dug in 1874. Initially it was intended for drainage of the peat area and for the transport of the peat that was excavated in the Peel. De Snep is one of the nature reserves that are part of De Pelen. It is managed by Staatsbosbeheer. In 2011, a fen and forest were created in the northern part as nature compensation for the construction of an industrial estate. The southern part is a Peel remnant: a wetland area because the peat was excavated for peat extraction.