Top 20 Natural Monuments around Lokeren

Lokeren offers a diverse range of natural monuments, including restored river meanders like the Meandering Old Scheldt, low moor ecosystems such as Damvallei Lake, and extensive marshlands and grasslands like De Molsbroek Nature Reserve. You'll also find unique urban nature areas like De Buylaers and specific flora reserves such as De Eenbes.

Yes, Lokeren is excellent for birdwatching. The Meandering Old Scheldt is an ideal spot, serving as a resting and breeding area for many birds. De Molsbroek Nature Reserve is a haven for birdwatchers, with observations including teal, shoveler, kingfisher, and great egrets. The Moervaartmeersen also offers rich birdlife, particularly water birds, along its peaceful towpath.

Several natural monuments around Lokeren are family-friendly. De Molsbroek Nature Reserve is excellent for children, offering educational opportunities, an insect garden with a barefoot path, and an asphalt trail. Damvallei Lake and the Meandering Old Scheldt are also great for nature walks and spotting wildlife with kids. Additionally, the Duck Decoy and Keeper's Cottage Donkmeer features a petting zoo and a willow tunnel, making it an engaging visit for families.

Absolutely. De Molsbroek Nature Reserve features an asphalt trail of 5 to 8 km, ensuring easy exploration without wet feet. The towpath along the Moervaartmeersen also provides a peaceful and easy route for walks. For specific easy hiking routes, you can explore options like the 'Molsbroek Visitor Centre – Bovendurme loop from Vogelwijk' which is an easy 4.1 km hike, found in the Hiking around Lokeren guide.

De Buylaers is a unique 20-hectare nature area situated within Lokeren's urban core, just a ten-minute walk from the city center. It largely retains its historic appearance with moist hay meadows and reed beds, offering a tranquil natural experience close to urban life. The spontaneously wild 'Verloren Bos' (Lost Forest) also borders this area.

Yes, some natural areas have historical significance. De Buylaers, for instance, largely retains its historic appearance. De Linie (Liniewegel) follows the irregular boundaries of an old military fortification from 1702. The Duck Decoy and Keeper's Cottage Donkmeer, dating back to 1678, offers insights into historical duck catching practices and the life of a 'cage man'.

Lokeren's natural monuments are surrounded by opportunities for outdoor activities. You can find numerous hiking trails, such as the 'Moervaartmeersen – Chapel of the Cross loop from Daknam' or the 'De Buylaers Nature Reserve – Molsbroek Nature Reserve loop from Lokeren', detailed in the Hiking around Lokeren guide. For cycling, routes like 'De Buylaers Nature Reserve – Mira Bridge loop from Lokeren' are available in the Cycling around Lokeren guide. Running trails are also popular, with options like the 'Molsbroek Nature Reserve loop from Lokeren' found in the Running Trails around Lokeren guide.

The best time to visit depends on your interests. Early spring is particularly special for De Eenbes, where the rare *Paris quadrifolia* (herb-paris) blooms abundantly. For birdwatching, many areas like the Meandering Old Scheldt and De Molsbroek are active year-round, but spring and autumn migrations can offer spectacular sightings. Generally, spring and summer provide pleasant weather for exploring the diverse landscapes.

De Molsbroek Nature Reserve is Lokeren's most prominent natural asset and the largest reserve in the region, covering 120 hectares. It features diverse habitats including marshland, grassland, reedbeds, and river dunes. It's renowned for its rich biodiversity, especially for birdwatching, and offers educational facilities like a visitor center, information boards, and an insect garden, making it a comprehensive nature experience.

Damvallei Lake is a serene low moor ecosystem formed by former Scheldt meanders. Visitors can expect to see flowery, moist hay meadows, peat pits, and two lakes. It's a quiet nature reserve known for its many birds, and its landscape is defined by the interplay of wet and dry soils, with reed and swamp vegetation developing in the muddy bank zones.

Yes, the Natuurpunt viewing platform at Blokstraat and the Oude Schelde offers stunning views of the green landscape and the old Scheldt arm. This 6.5-meter-high platform provides a unique perspective on the area's natural evolution and is a hub for various recreational routes. A new lookout tower also provides views of the Meandering Old Scheldt.

Many of Lokeren's natural areas are quite accessible. De Molsbroek Nature Reserve, for example, is noted for its proximity to the city center and public transport, making it easily reachable for visitors without a car. De Buylaers is also conveniently located within a ten-minute walk from the city center.

The Paardeweide Wetlands are a controlled flood area of the Sigmaplan, designed to flood approximately once a year during north-westerly storms. The rest of the year, it offers a unique wet Scheldt nature experience. From the dike, you can view the reed atoll, and a path allows you to see the fish ladder. In spring, the nearby Paardebroek is known for its floral splendor.