Venusberg - orange - 6.1 km

In the area around Venusberg, Natuurpunt, together with its many volunteers, has been working for years on field maintenance and heath restoration. Also elsewhere in the Valley of the Zwarte Beek, this volunteer organization manages various unique nature gems.
The Zwarte Beek in Limburg is one of the ecologically most valuable watercourses in Flanders. Nevertheless, work is also necessary there to further improve water quality and the fish population.
The downstream section of the Zwarte Beek was straightened in the past. Weirs were installed, causing the connection between the watercourse and its valley to be lost. In 2017-2018, a restructuring project was carried out by the Flanders Environment Agency in collaboration with Natuurpunt. The restoration project of the Zwarte Beek improved the structural quality of the watercourse over a length of more than 2.5 km. In the areas 'Bocht van Laren' and 'Schurfert', (historical) meanders were excavated again, and the straightened sections of the Zwarte Beek were (partially) filled in. As a result, the Zwarte Beek regained its flowing character.
The alternation between inner and outer bends, along with the associated variation in flow speed, erosion, and sedimentation processes now creates new opportunities for flow-loving fish species such as chub, loach, and other water-loving plants and animals. The fish migration obstacles in the Zwarte Beek, such as the weir at the Gestelse Heide and the Gestelse mill, were made passable for fish. In addition to improving the structure of the watercourse, the project also increased the water retention capacity of the valley and restored the landscape and ecological values in the nature reserve.