Duck pond

In a distant past, the landscape in 'the Great Earth' mainly consisted of dry heathlands, fens, and a few sand dunes. From the middle of the 13th century, ditches were dug to cultivate the dry sandy grounds. Fens were converted into fish ponds. The inhabitants of the nearby hamlets grazed their livestock on the lands and stripped the heath. When Belgium was established, this area was purchased by King Leopold I as part of the Royal Domain. The meadows were gradually transformed into pastures with a very characteristic block-shaped pattern.

In 1962, the domain came back into the hands of the city and the story of the current urban recreation area Dekshoevevijver began. In 2005 and 2006, the city of Geel, the Flemish Land Company, and the province of Antwerp invested in land development works. These works thoroughly refreshed the domain and made it an attractive stopping place for fishermen, hikers, cyclists, and nature lovers.

The walking path around the pond is about 2 kilometers long. On the information boards along the path, you can read more about the plants and animals, the landscape, the fishermen, and their hobby.

Veleau | Fietsen langs water