The castle Terlaemen

The Terlaemen Castle is a private domain, but it is worth admiring from the forest at Kluis. The estate is 142 hectares large and consists of pine and deciduous forests, beautiful heathland, and 50 hectares of ponds that were created in the 13th century through the extraction of iron sandstone. Under the influence of the abbeys of Averbode and Herkenrode, they were used for fish farming starting in the 16th century. Even illustrious clients, such as the Russian tsars, ordered their young carp from Terlaemen. The large pond directly opposite the castle is still referred to as the 'Tsar's pond'. The current castle is a late classical mansion from the end of the 18th century. It is a rectangular building with two dormers, flanked by two recessed right-angled wings. The facade is decorated with a triangular pediment.

Right in front of us is the Terlaemen nature reserve, which mainly consists of sandy soil and varies from dry to wet. Many bird species reside in the reserve. The ponds are part of the unique water-rich area in the heart of Limburg. A total of 700 hectares of water and reeds stretch across the municipalities of Heusden-Zolder, Zonhoven, Hasselt, Genk, and Houthalen-Helchteren. Various partners working on landscape, nature, culture, and nature-oriented recreation have united under the name 'De Wijers'. They are responsible for the restoration of the ponds and meadows, the construction of pools, and mapping out walking routes. A 'wijer' is an old term for a pond in which fish are bred.

Erfgoed Vlaanderen