Walking stage 2: Neerpelt - Dommelen | The Dommelpad Watermill Route

The mills are unfortunately a bit sparsely sown along this 23 km stage of the Dommelpad. Fortunately, the surroundings are no less beautiful! You pass two water mills, or the remains of them. And on the way you cross the border from Belgium to the Netherlands.

The Dommelpad

The Dommelpad takes you over a length of 125 kilometers from Peer to 's-Hertogenbosch and vice versa. With this 6-day walking route of an average of 20 kilometers per day you follow the current from south to north the story of the watermills. And upstream from north to south the story of nature on the Dommel. View the entire Dommelpad via visitbrabant.com/dommelpad .

The pearls of the Dommel

A hundred years ago, there were more than fifty watermills in the catchment area of the Dommel river. From the source in Peer to the mouth in Den Bosch, the mills did their work. The water flowed, the mills turned and with the energy that was generated, the grain was ground into flour, oil was pressed from rapeseed or ran from oak bark was extracted. That ran was used in the tanning of leather. If you follow this walking route along the Dommel, you can see with your own eyes what is left of the watermills of the past. Moreover, the Dommel meanders through a beautiful part of Belgium and the Netherlands. Groundbreakingly beautiful!

Crossings

The mills were often built on narrow spots in the river, where the drop was somewhat greater. The water of the Dommel flowed there with force, which allowed the water mills to turn well. And because the mills formed a kind of dam in the water, they were also suitable places where people could cross the river.

Beaded string

In order to work effectively, the watermills of a century ago did not have to be too close to each other. On old maps you can see that the mills formed a kind of string of beads along the banks of the river. For a long time, the mills were our only major energy suppliers and therefore of great importance to the economy of that time. That is why they often belonged to fortified farms, castles or defense works.

Influence on the landscape

Because the water at the mills was dammed up using dams, the area upstream became wetter. This influence sometimes reached as far as two kilometres. Over the years, these dam areas acquired'\\\'watermill landscapes\\\'\\\' wet, peaty soils with the associated vegetation that you can still see today. Ready to see all this? Let's go!

The Great Heath

The Dommelpad runs right through De Groote Heide, a varied six-thousand-hectare Nature Border Park that stretches from the Dutch city of Eindhoven to the Belgian city of Pelt. The landscape along the Dommel is formed by a string of watermills that push up the water. Discover the regional stories and all the beauty that this border region has to offer on degrooteheide.eu .

About this route

The Dommelpad is set out via the Brabant and Belgian/Flemish walking junction system. Follow the signs and easily walk the route from one numbered junction to another. Arrows point you the way to the number you have chosen. Is there something wrong with the signage of the route? Let us know via visitbrabant.com/meldpunt . You can also call 0800-4050050 (free).