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See the photos from this walk

Beautiful nature walk through the Houterenberg-Pinnekenswijer nature reserve.

The Houterenberg is one of many sandy hills that were planted with extensive pine forests for mining almost a century ago. In the centuries before that, the original oak forests had to make way for poor heathland. Both the historical oak-birch forest and the heath have remained limited in this area. However, the heathland on this hill contains rare plants such as creeping lady fern and ground star, alongside sensitive animals like the green forester (a butterfly), the heath mantid, and the tree pipit.

The Pinnekenswijer is an old water body with round and small sundew at the banks and northern dragonflies that hide among the reeds. The Agency for Nature and Forest aims to preserve and further develop the special flora and fauna with adapted nature conservation. Space is reserved for pioneer vegetation and the heath is rejuvenated. The monotonous coniferous forests are being partially and gradually transformed into oak forests.