Top 20 Natural Monuments around Hove

Here you know why water has an attraction...

The Kesselse Heide is a provincial green space covering 79 hectares, 61 of which are open to the public. The initial acquisition took place in 1978, and it has been expanded since then. The entrance is located in Nijlen, at Vaerestraat 4. The space is freely accessible daily from sunrise to sunset. There are two ponds in the area. These old wells not only provide a pleasant change of scenery but are also a boon for the many plants and animals. Since 1996, the Kesselse Heide has been a protected landscape. It is one of the few remaining remnants of the once vast Kempen heathlands. The heath is a living community created in our region by humans. Historical agricultural practices created a landscape that has been preserved through human intervention: grazing by sheep, burning the heath, and sod cutting. Sod cutting is the removal of the topsoil and vegetation. A dug-out sod of plants and their roots is a sod. If heathland is left untreated, it will evolve into oak and birch forests, and the typical species associated with a heathland habitat will disappear. In the mid-19th century, the Kesselse Heide—like many other parts of the Kempen region—was afforested with Scots pine, a valuable timber for mining. However, during both World Wars, these sod-covered forests were felled, and from then on, the heathland was able to expand again. Current management consists of removing trees and mechanically cutting sods to give the open heathland every chance to thrive. https://youtu.be/NoPf0HSeFz8

The Kesselse Heide-Het Goor area consists of a variety of nutrient-poor meadows, pastures, marshes, and ponds, bordered and crisscrossed by enclosed landscape types, and contains numerous landscape elements. The area is characterized by a richly varied and sometimes rare flora. Several historic farm buildings can be found within the area. The Kesselse Heide-Het Goor area, with an area of approximately 2,620 hectares, is located between the villages of Nijlen and Kessel, north of the Lier-Herentals road. The northern border of this area is along Vogelzangstraat, the eastern border along Achterbist, Kannaertsstraat, and Goorstraat. The Grote Steenweg forms the southern border, and the western border is formed by Heidestraat and Vaerestraat. The landscape includes the following topographical areas: "Kannaerdsche Heyde," "Kesselse Heide," "Mol Heide," "Achterbiest," "Het Hoog Bosch," "De Hooge Heide," "Het Armveld," "De Schommers" or "Vissen Eynde," "Het Goor," "Het Goorkasteel," and "Hoge Heyde." Several streams traverse the area, specifically the Goorkantloop, the Elstbeek, the Paddenloop, Blauwe Hoekloop, and the Visbeek. The elevation within the area varies from approximately 5 meters +TAW to approximately 10 meters +TAW. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Kesselse Heide-Het Goor, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/302886

Very nice walk with a lot of variety in landscapes and terrain.

beautiful area for cycling

On May 7, 1923, the Rivierenhof opened its gates to the general public. It is the oldest provincial domain in Belgium. Later all other provinces followed suit. History: In 1921 the last noble heirs decided to sell the domain. Thanks to the alert actions of provincial registrar Jozef Schobbens, the province purchased the domain as a green lung for the already heavily populated Deurne-Borgerhout region where many workers lived. It was hoped that the Rivierenhof would be able to offer them healthy air, relaxation and tranquility. The province expanded the park from 40 to 135 hectares. Ponds were dug, lands were raised, castles were renovated and picturesque shelters were built. Bridges, a rose garden and sports fields were constructed. All this to allow everyone to enjoy the fresh greenery as much as possible. 100 years later, the Rivierenhof is still the most beautiful park in the entire province, where visitors from near and far admire everything this special place has to offer.

The "Samenvloeiing van Dijle en Nete = Rupel" is a place in Belgium which is located where the rivers Dijle and Nete join to form the river Rupel. It is located in the Flemish region, in the province of Antwerp, in the city of Rumst. This site is known for its natural beauty and for being a meeting point between the waters of the two rivers. The confluence of the rivers creates a striking and fascinating landscape, with large expanses of water joining and mixing. The area around the Samenvloeiing van Dijle en Nete = Rupel also offers opportunities to enjoy the surrounding nature, with scenic trails and green areas that invite for walks and hikes. It's a popular spot with nature lovers and those looking to spend time outdoors.

In the Kempen region, heathland is a cultural landscape that developed long ago through the frequent grazing of sheep on poor sandy soils. Since then, heathland has become valuable and rare. The Kesselse Heide provincial green space is all that remains of a much larger heathland area. Since 2023, the Kesselse Heide can also be explored as a heritage site. Various information boards provide information on folklore, landscape features, the wartime history, and more. You can find some photos of these new boards in the photo section of this highlight.