Cartierheide Nature Reserve

Cartierheide Nature Reserve
It’s almost Belgium, but fortunately de Kempen are still just within our country’s borders. Because it’s a landscape to be proud of. And a landscape steeped in history. Napoleon left his mark on the Cartierheide . The woods were once the haunt of smugglers, whilst pedlars walked along the sandy paths carrying their wares in a basket on their backs. On the poor sandy soils, smallholders struggled for centuries to earn a meagre living through blood, sweat and tears.

The landscape of de Kempen tells stories, but is also simply a delight to enjoy. Horse riders and carriage drivers can enjoy themselves to their heart’s content on almost all the sandy paths. There are cycle paths and routes, and you can walk wherever your feet take you. Across the heath, through the woods, alongside meandering streams – perhaps even a little way across the border? Because, fortunately for the Belgians, the Kempen region simply continues there.