Flirting with the border in the Valley of the Merkske

Hiking trails & Routes

Flirting with the border in the Valley of the Merkske

Moderate

4.5

(107)

527

hikers

Flirting with the border in the Valley of the Merkske

02:21

9.38km

10m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 9, 2024

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Wortel-kolonie

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

150 m

Wortel-Kolonie

Highlight • Historical Site

At the beginning of the 19th century, the Wortel colony was the first free agricultural colony, which meant that poor families were allowed to live on small farms here. They …

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722 m

Bootjesven

Highlight • Lake

The Bootjesven - in German as much as Bötchen-Moor - is a natural bog that was deepened by the extraction of peat. At that time, the colony's watchdogs swam here, …

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9.27 km

De Klapekster Visitor Centre

Highlight • Rest Area

Ideal starting point for cycling or walking tours.
Information boards at the Visitor Center 'De Klapekster' provide detailed information about the history and landscape of the Colony.

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9.38 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

6.39 km

2.75 km

192 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

5.84 km

2.90 km

406 m

237 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Friday 23 October

12°C

8°C

81 %

Additional weather tips

There’s a fairly high chance of rain. Consider packing a waterproof jacket.

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

October 16, 2025,Vallei van het Merkske - Wortel Kolonie

Depart from the Wortel Kolonie parking lot. A lovely walk through avenues, along sandy roads and forest paths. It also crosses the border to the Merkske.

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April 5, 2024,Wandeling "Flirten met de grens in de Vallei van het Merkske"

#The province of Antwerp
#hoogstraten #carrot
#provincienoordbrabant
Flirting with the border in the Merkske valley
Walk of 9.4 km, of which 9.3 km is unpaved.
Border shopping
Wortel Colony, once an attraction for vagabonds, is now home to birds, bats, insects and other guests. The official quiet area is deafeningly beautiful. Do you want to push boundaries? During this trip …

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May 29, 2025,Flirten met de grens in de Vallei van het Merkske

Nice walk with two of my daughters on the border between the Netherlands and Belgium.

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March 31, 2024,Wandeling Wortelkolonie en Merkske

After a delicious breakfast in our B&B, we are ready to explore nature in and around Wortel colony.
Past a first intersection of lanes, we reach the idyllic Bootsven. Further on we see fens and heathland on the left. In the distance I spot the Konik horses, and they spot me. They even walk up to me and let me …

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