The best mountain hikes in Grensmaas

This seems to me more like a depot or loading and unloading area (or something else) than a mine entrance, because I don't think horizontal mine entrances ever existed in Limburg, at least not for the coal mines. You could only go down through the shafts.

Boundary marker 1845 doesn't exist. Each marker is marked 1843, the year, and a number from 1 to 369.

Very challenging and very steep. Be careful here. There is a rope, best to use it.

Hidden among the greenery of Hoge Kempen National Park lies a silent witness to the past: an old mine entrance. This entrance recalls the time when coal was mined deep underground here—the black gold that made the Limburg region bustle with activity for decades. What was once a place of hard labor, dust, and noise has now been replaced by tranquility and nature. The surrounding forests and hills have reclaimed the land, but the contours of the mining past remain visible in the landscape. The weathered brick gates and the occasional palpable cooler air at the entrance evoke images of the miners who descended here day in, day out. Today, this place stands as an impressive historical monument within the nature park. A reminder of human resilience and of the transformation from industry to nature.

Keienstrand lies on the shore of a clear lake in the Hoge Kempen National Park. This spot has a primal quality: large, rounded stones lie scattered along the water's edge, the wind gently blowing across the surface. It's a place that invites peace and reflection… where you can sit for a moment, listening to the lapping of the water and observing the play of light and shadow on the stones. The stones are a reminder of the geological history of this landscape, shaped by gravel extraction and nature restoration. Now, Keienstrand is a haven for both people and animals: dragonflies buzz above the water, birds skim low over the shore, and the scent of pine fills the air.

There are old flint quarries in this area: the “Carrières de silex du Thier des Vignes”.

It's a small but valuable reserve consisting of calcareous grasslands, scrub, and former quarry and slope areas. Thanks to the calcareous soil, rare plants such as orchids and thyme thrive here, and butterflies and insects abound. It's a quiet, sunny spot where nature has slowly reclaimed the old quarry slopes.

The Peeking Wall is a characteristic wall that often serves a special or mysterious function in the landscape. The name suggests it's a place for "peeking" or watching, for example, a wall along a path or plot of land that allows one to sneak a peek without being seen. In many cases, a Peeking Wall has a historical or cultural background, such as an old property boundary, a garden wall, or a prominent border in the landscape.