Viewing room duck pits

The Flemish Land Agency has provided two new vantage points at the Aanwijsputten in Beernem. The Aanwijs deep wells are a vulnerable nature reserve that is not open to the public. In two viewing points directly opposite each other, hikers and nature lovers get a beautiful view of the lakes and the unique nature. While the observation tower offers a view from a height of 10 meters, the viewing room is located on a gentle slope slightly above ground level. It is therefore easily accessible for wheelchair users and prams. This way everyone can enjoy this beautiful piece of nature with respect for the tranquility.

The nature reserve de Aanwijsputten, managed by Natuur en Bos, consists of a number of water features in the middle of the Bulskampveld landscape park. They are also known as the 'Duck Pits'. There are many rare plants that are typical of wet moorland areas, such as round sundew and marsh wolf's claw. Due to the fragility of this vegetation, the area is not open to the public.

The indicator wells are part of the European Natura 2000 network. These are European habitats of plants and animals that need protection in order to strengthen biodiversity. Six of those European protected habitats can be found in the Aanwijs deep wells. The most important are the fens, the oak beech forest, wet and dry heath and heather barren grasslands. Via the Biscopveld nature development project , the Flemish Land Agency carried out site works in and around the Aanwijsputten in 2013-2014 so that nature can develop better in the future.

Lookout points directly opposite each other

The viewing room can be reached via a gentle slope in the birch forest. It will take you to the lookout point just above the ground. In the tower, directly opposite the viewing room, a spiral staircase takes you to a panoramic view at a height of 10 meters. You will see various vegetation types that connect to each other: lakes with dikes, swamp forest, birch-beech forest, heath, coniferous forest and a wide forest edge. You can spot many different birds here: white hole, little grebe, teal, tree falcon, black woodpecker, tree pipit, buzzard, ...

Flemish Minister of Nature Zuhal Demir: "Over the past year we have become attached to the beautiful nature in Flanders. Nature is therefore the ideal base to relax and forget all worries for a while. As Flemish Minister of Nature I do everything I can to bring our greenery closer to the people.Even if nature is not directly accessible because of its vulnerability.With binoculars in hand, you can enjoy all the rare plants and animals that find a home in the Pointing Wells from the two vantage points in Beernem".

The Aanwijs deep wells, as a whole of water features and dikes, were created by the extraction of fieldstones in the 19th century and by sand extraction in the 20th century. During the First World War, the Germans built storage depots for ammunition. In the beech forest, the sculpture of a German soldier refers to that war past. The sculpture is visible from the spiral staircase in the watchtower.

This infrastructure was placed after consultation with an advisory group of local partners. The construction of the infrastructure is part of the Biscopveld nature development project . In the project area of 1015 hectares in the Bornebeek - Vagevuurbossen - Gulke Putten - Sint-Pietersveld zone, the Flemish Land Agency, together with Natuur en Bos, is carrying out works to improve the design of protected nature.

The viewing room is located near the roundabout between junction 19 and 12 of the Bulskampveld walking network, i.e. near the lane that leads from the Aanwijs car park in Beernem to the Bulskampveld Visitor Center .
The viewing tower is accessible via a small lane near the small bicycle shed between junction 28 and 29 of the Brugse Ommeland cycling network. Parking Aanwijs is currently being refurbished by the VLM, but parking will remain possible.

Willem Vandenameele