The best dog-friendly hikes and walks around Maaseik

Beautiful wide view. Binoculars are handy for scanning the edges of the woods or spotting birds in the meadows.

A small, hidden gem of the heath. Heather blooms here from mid-August to mid-September. Flora and fauna in harmony. With a bit of luck, you might spot a deer frolicking through the vegetation.

House of Nature is an artwork that serves as a gateway to Bosland National Park in Lommel. Located on the edge of the Sahara nature reserve, the work depicts an inland dune. Its shape evokes sand moving in the wind. Visitors can enter the artwork through a passageway shaped like a person, a reference to the connection between humanity and nature.

Cornelissen Brewery is a traditional Belgian family brewery in Opitter (Bree Limburg) that has been brewing craft beer for over 165 years. It is one of the oldest and most authentic breweries in the region, combining classic brewing methods with modern quality. The brewery has existed since 1859 and has been located in Opitter ever since. Originally known as Brouwerij Sint-Jozef, the brewery has carried the Cornelissen name since 2015 to emphasize the family's heritage and commitment. The Cornelissen family has been brewing beer in the region since the 1800s, and the brewhouse at Itterplein 19 has been the home of this craft for generations. Now, the sixth generation is at the helm, with Jef Cornelissen as the current owner and master brewer. Cornelissen Brewery offers a wide range of Belgian beers, including traditional pilsners, abbey beers, and specialty beers. Some well-known brands and styles include PAX Pils – a classic Belgian pilsner (lager) with a long brewing tradition. King Mule IPA – India Pale Ale with a fruity hop character. Limburgse Witte – a cloudy white beer with refreshing notes. Herkenrode Cister – an abbey beer that gained international fame and won several awards. Kriekenbier – a fruit beer with Limburg cherries for a fresh, sour note. Sint-Gummarus Tripel and Ops-Ale – other styles with local characteristics. These beers have won medals at various international competitions, including the World Beer Awards, where several Cornelissen beers were recognized. The brewery remains true to traditional production methods, as old copper brewing kettles are still in use. Its own yeast cultures are preserved and used in the brewing process, and its own water source from the Itter Valley is used to ensure consistent water quality. This combination of tradition and quality gives Cornelissen beers their signature flavor and consistency. You can visit the brewery to observe and sample the beer brewing process. Tours with tastings are available (usually upon request or during special days) and provide insight into the brewery's rich history and production methods.

The Pollismolen is one of the most striking historic watermills in Opitter, a submunicipality of Bree (Limburg, Belgium). This beautifully situated undershot watermill, mentioned in documents dating back more than eighty generations, is a fascinating piece of industrial heritage and an attractive starting point for nature experiences in the Wijshager/Eetsevelderbeek valley and surrounding nature reserves such as the Itterbeek Valley. The Pollismolen was mentioned as early as 1078, making it one of the oldest watermills in the region. Over the centuries, the mill was called by various names, including the Wayenberghmolen and later the Scheelenmolen, until its current name, derived from the old name Pölles, became common. The current mill building, with its authentic wooden interior, largely dates from the 19th century (circa 1870). The mill served as a grain mill on the Wijshagerbeek (also called Eetsevelderbeek) for a long time until it was decommissioned in 1961. In 1981, the mill was purchased by the municipality of Bree, after which a thorough restoration took place to make it operational again. Since 1994, the Pollismolen has been officially recognized as a protected monument, including the mill house, water wheel, and lock mechanism, due to its industrial-archaeological value. Today, the mill is once again in operation, for example, for demonstrations, and remains a living example of the typical watermill tradition.

The park originated around a castle built here around 1900 by a Brussels lawyer who built a country house on the site of a former moated farm and created a spacious park of almost 7 hectares around it. The rapidly expanding collection of trees and ponds in the English landscape style gave the estate a character that is still visible today. When the original residents died, the castle changed hands. After Mrs. Janssens died in 1970, the castle was purchased by the municipality. However, the building fell into disrepair and was eventually demolished, but the park itself was preserved and opened to the public.

The boardwalk through the Wetlands is an atmospheric walking experience in the Itterbeekvallei nature reserve, a small-scale marsh, stream, and grassland landscape in the Belgian province of Limburg around Opitter and Bree. This characterful nature reserve is an important part of the cross-border Kempen-Broek landscape and offers a beautiful mix of marshland, meadows, and reed areas where you can walk along a boardwalk.

The House of Nature is a unique gateway to Bosland National Park. The monument recalls the shape of the dunes found in the park.