Along Molse lakes

Opposite the Provincial Domain Zilvermeer in Mol, Zilvermeerhaven Port Aventura V is the starting point for this walk along Mol lakes and 3 nature reserves.

Leave with your back to the water to the left on the bike path on the main road. Cross after 250 m and walk right into the wide forest road between the closure of the Provincial Domain and a large lake, remnant of one of the numerous former sand extractions. Soon you can step on a narrow path right along the water. After 750 m turn the road to the left, still past the closure, and takes you to the N136. Turn right on the cycle path and continue for 350 m you will reach the Ecocentrum De Goren 1 (open: Easter September: week: 8.30-16.30 h., weekend: 10-14 h.). You will not only find everything about nature and environmental education, but also tourist regional information. There is also a nature trail and in the nature reserve behind it you are sure to find sundew. After a possible visit, cross the N136 and immediately turn left along a narrow path into the forest. Keep following links. Ignore all side paths and walk parallel to the N136 through this beautiful forest with the somewhat strange name Klein Verkallen. Look out on the right at a landscaped frog pool. After just over 1 km you will arrive at a T-junction. Walk to the right on the wide avenue. On the left is the nature reserve De Maat and on the right one of the many former sand extraction pits. Sibelco, the global market leader, has been mining rare quartz sand here in Mol, Dessel and Lommel for more than 135 years. Large 'sand pits' are left behind. A number of these deep lakes will be repurposed as nature reserves. Here in the lake of Mol-Rauw, an attempt is being made to create breeding grounds for terns with floating islands. After about 2 km you will see buildings and a garden of Sibelco on the right. On the concrete road, turn left. Behind the high embankment on the right, a sand dredger is in operation on the most recent sand pit. After 500 m, turn right on the concrete road. A little further you can go to the Blauwe Kei and the Zeven Heerlijkheden for a refreshment. Walk across the canal to Beverlo and continue straight on the asphalt road and 250 m further left on the bridge over the Bocholt-Herentals canal. Stay on the asphalt road until it turns right. Go here on a wide gravel road on the far left to the towpath. Walk to the right and after 150 m, just before the lock and past a drainage channel, turn right into the forest. After about 1 km, look for a bunker on the left: a remnant of WWII and now an ideal winter home for bats. Look 500 m past the bunker to a path on the left and walk into the nature reserve Den Diel 2. The water puddles of Den Diel are 'sprite pits', usually of shallow depth. Spriet is a type of lignite that was mined here during WW II as an emergency fuel. Rare species such as kingfisher, bluethroat and hawk have their permanent home here. Den Diel is also known for the wide variety of dragonflies and damselflies. Always follow the arrows on the yellow pictures. They will take you back after about 1 km along the canal and on the main road. Turn left and cross the bridge to the right on the bike path. After 50 m you walk through an opening in the fence wall across the street into the nature reserve De Maat 3. Follow the yellow signs here as well. Soon you will be walking in a beautiful pollard willow drive. Now ignore the yellow pictures and walk out of the nature reserve at the end of the drive over a narrow bridge. Turn right onto the N136. Cross the main road, turn right 10 m and walk to the right of the irrigation canal on a footpath into the forest. Keep right 10 m further onto the footpath. After 100 m, turn left (black arrow) along the water. The dirt road quickly connects to the cycle path, which takes you back to the marina after about 500 m.