Little Nete

The Kleine Nete rises on the border of the provinces of Antwerp and Limburg. It then flows through the Kempen to Lier where it merges with the Grote Nete and forms the Beneden-Nete.

This primeval river with its meandering course determines the landscape of flowery meadows and roughs, peaty swamps and mysterious trouser forests. The valley is peppered with numerous tributaries. In Herentals, the Kleine Nete cuts through the Kempense heuvelrug, a vast land dune ridge where forests, fens, purple heath and open sand alternate.

The Kleine Nete is part of the Scheldt basin where the tide influence is noticeable as far as Grobbendonk. This far-inland tidal action creates a freshwater tidal system that is unique in Europe. During heavy rainfall, the valley can store huge amounts of water, which is essential to save low-lying residential areas and roads from flooding.

The transition from land dunes to river valley results in a wide variety of wet and dry biotopes, making the Kleine Nete valley a unique ecosystem in which numerous plants and animals feel at home. The area is still home to populations of a large number of rare species such as hedge frog, river toad, brook prick, bluethroat, nightingale, beaver, summer bell, marsh cartel leaf, lavenderhei, ...

However, major changes in land use have caused many species to be (strongly) endangered, or even disappeared. In order to preserve the large natural values of the Kleine Nete valley, large parts were designated as Habitats Directive areas, which is part of the NATURA 2000 network.

In order to give the special species of the Habit Directive area between Herentals and Lier a sustainable future, Natuurpunt has applied for the LIFE project "Large-scale habitat restoration in the Kleine Nete valley", which started on 01/01/2011. Together with the project partners VMM (Flemish Environment Agency, Water Department) and the Province of Antwerp, the Water Policy Department, Natuurpunt, together with its numerous volunteers, is committed to the preservation and restoration of this unique area. The VMM will build a fish ladder on the Molenbeek/Bollaak near the watermill in Viersel.

As a result, the habitat of fish such as the river toad and the small loach is significantly expanded. The province of Antwerp will give the Kleine Beek more space by excavating too high banks and other obstacles. Not only will nature benefit from this, we will create more buffering and space for water and thus prevent flooding elsewhere.

Within the framework of LIFE Kleine Nete, various measures are planned to give European endangered habitats and species opportunities again in the valley of the Kleine Nete. In addition, through these measures we also try to strengthen the connectivity between the various Habitats Directive areas in the Kempen.

The priority scope comprises three sub-areas, all located in the Herentals - Lier region:

Eddy&Rita