Top 20 Natural Monuments around Valkenswaard

The natural monuments around Valkenswaard offer a diverse range of landscapes. You'll find extensive heathlands, serene fens, dense forests, and meandering rivers. Areas like De Malpie and De Groote Heide showcase this variety, from sandy soils to water-rich areas with unique plant life.

Yes, the region is excellent for hiking. De Malpie was even recognized as the 'Hiking Municipality of the Year' in 2016. You can find attractive and varied routes through heath, fens, and forests. The Road Cycling Routes around Valkenswaard guide also features routes that pass through these scenic areas.

Valkenswaard and its surroundings are very cyclist-friendly. De Groote Heide offers a vast network of bicycle tracks. You can explore routes like the 'Groot Malpieven – Achelse Kluis Abbey loop' from the Road Cycling Routes around Valkenswaard guide, or try gravel biking routes such as 'Valkenhorst Heath – Heathland Trail loop' from the Gravel biking around Valkenswaard guide.

Absolutely! The area provides excellent mountain biking opportunities. The MTB Trails around Valkenswaard guide features routes like the 'Aalsterhut MTB Loop' or the 'Vlasroot Pond – Mountain Bike Trail loop', allowing you to explore the diverse terrain on two wheels.

Yes, there are several notable viewpoints. The Lommelse Sahara Observation Tower provides a stunning 30-meter-high perspective, allowing you to see up to 25 km on a clear day, encompassing the Sahara, ponds, and forests. Another great spot is the Roof of Brabant, offering views over the Gulbergen estate.

The natural monuments are rich in wildlife. In De Malpie, you might encounter big-eared bats and Natterer's bats in the bat cellar, and various bird species like green and great spotted woodpeckers. The Strabrechtse Heide is home to Highland cattle, sheep, deer, and a wide array of birds around Het Beuven fen, including cormorants, bitterns, and spoonbills.

Many areas are very family-friendly. For instance, the Willow huts by Will Beckers offer an adventure trail with unique braided artworks that children (and adults) can explore. The Lommelse Sahara Observation Tower and Lommel Sahara Lake are also popular with families, offering engaging experiences in nature. De Plateaux-Hageven even has wheelchair-accessible trails.

To witness the stunning purple heather, the best time to visit is between mid-August and mid-September. During this period, areas like De Malpie and the Strabrechtse Heide transform into a vibrant, picturesque landscape, perfect for photography and leisurely walks.

Yes, you can find options for refreshments. The Venberg Water Mill, located in De Malpie, serves as a great starting or ending point for visits, offering snacks and drinks. Additionally, the Achelse Kluis Abbey, surrounded by a natural reserve, has a brasserie where you can relax and enjoy local specialties after your outdoor activities.

Yes, several natural monuments span the Dutch-Belgian border, offering a unique cross-border experience. De Groote Heide is an expansive natural park across both countries, and De Plateaux-Hageven is a transboundary nature reserve where you can unknowingly cross the border on winding paths.

Definitely! De Plateaux-Hageven features unique 19th-century water meadows, irrigated with calcareous Meuse water, leading to a rich botanical diversity including rare plants like autumn crocus and orchids. The Strabrechtse Heide also boasts Het Beuven, the largest fen in the Netherlands, supporting unique plant life and a wide array of birds.

Yes, De Plateaux-Hageven is known for having wheelchair-accessible trails, allowing a wider range of visitors to enjoy its diverse landscapes, including culturally historic water meadows, forests, and footpaths.