Top 20 Lakes around Kortessem

The cycle path through the water leads cyclists over a 212-meter-long and three-meter-wide concrete path, with water at eye level on both sides. Swans and other waterfowl swim along the banks, curiously watching the cyclists. Since its opening, interest in this unique cycle path has been enormous. On average, 800 visitors per day explore this unforgettable part of the Limburg cycle network, with peaks on Saturdays and Sundays, and on some days even up to 5,000 cyclists.

De Wijers is a unique nature reserve with approximately 700 hectares of water and over 1,000 ponds. The once artificial fishponds have developed into a valuable wetland with impressive biodiversity – home to numerous bird species, amphibians, and dragonflies. The area is part of the European Natura 2000 network.

In De Wijers you can walk quietly on good paths between all kinds of water features. De Wijers is therefore called the land of 1001 ponds.

The paved road between the ponds in the Heidestraat has been traffic-free for many years, but the paving was in poor condition and was replaced by ochre-coloured asphalt. Cyclists and walkers with, for example, prams, can easily experience the area. Along the way, you can discover nature from two new platforms with benches that offer a beautiful view of the ponds.

In the Maten you will find a piece of authentic wine landscape with beautiful ponds, connected by heads and tails. It is the area par excellence for bird lovers, as the Wijers are a breeding area for numerous water and songbirds. The Augustijnenvijver is a stopping place for countless birds during bird migration. The routes connect Genk with Diepenbeek and guide you past the ponds of the Maten to the Diepenbekerbos.

Along both sides of the cycling and walking path that runs between the nature reserves and ponds of the Dauteweyers, there are now wooden platforms (partly above the water) with a total of four wonderful benches. You just have to enjoy yourself here.

The Dauteweyers, a very wetland area, together with the Pomperik-Dorpsbemden, form an important habitat for animals and plants. The graceful ponds along the Dautebeek are the calling card of the Dauteweyers. The ponds were created last century by the mining of iron ore. You will also find hay meadows, alder groves, a pond, a knotel hedge and water-bound plants and animals here.

This walking area in the southernmost part of the Wijers guides you through a wide variety of landscapes around Diepenbeek. The entire area is extremely rich in water. There are several ponds with landing zones. There are alder forests and moist meadows around these ponds. The ideal habitat for the rare tree frog. The Demer, the Kaatsbeek, the Stiemerbeek and the Laak meander through the area. Here you will find landscaped ponds, hedgerows, blue grasslands and very rich meadows with plants such as the wreathed caraway, marigold and spotted orchid. In the summer you can admire the flowery hay meadows. Stay on the paths so that the rare plants are not damaged.