Velderheide

The forest area Velderheide or "Heksenkuil" is located in the north of Beerse, close to the landfill. The area of 12 hectares is characterized by a few clay pits, an artificial fen, and a mixed forest.
The domain used to be part of the abbot's heath, located in the north of Beerse, about 900 hectares in size. In 1311, John II of Brabant donated the abbot's heath to St. Michael's Abbey in Antwerp. It was a vast plain with land dunes, fens and swamps. In 1666 the municipality of Beerse bought the abbot's heath. The inhabitants were allowed to let the sheep graze, mow heather, cut peat... In 1772, Empress Maria Theresa issued an ordinance requiring the municipality to cultivate the uncultivated lands or sell them for reclamation. In 1820/1823 the municipality of Beerse sold land and heathland for reclamation. In 1845 the Dessel-Schoten canal was dug, which also runs through Beerse. Several brick factories were established along this canal and clay pits were dug in the immediate vicinity of these brick factories. A number of those old clay pits can still be seen in the domain.

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