HIKING POINT Kalmthoutse heide

The nature reserve

The Kalmthoutse Heide is located on the border with the Netherlands in the north of the province of Antwerp. The nature park is one of the largest nature reserves in Flanders. But there is more: the area extends into the Netherlands and thus forms a contiguous walking area (the border park De Zoom – Kalmthoutse Heide) of 60 km2.

The nature reserve consists of a unique heathland, with fens and dunes, bordered by forests. You imagine yourself here in a distant piece of nature, and not at all in busy Flanders!

The walk

The walk is very varied. She crisscrosses the nature reserve and introduces you to all the landscapes you can find here: wet and dry heath, dunes, fens and forests.

To protect the fragile nature you have to stay on the hiking trails, but that is not bad at all: there are more than enough paths to explore this piece of nature in a respectful way very thoroughly.

And the paths are occasionally quite rough: they run through loose sand, cross forests or are quite wet due to the many puddles and ponds. On Sunday afternoon it can get quite busy here, but most hikers stay close to the visitor center, so you often walk alone during the walk.

The walk runs for more than 95% on unpaved paths. There are no cars anywhere to be seen and there is no question of buildings. This is a quiet area.

During the walk you will pass a watchtower, which is open to the public. A beautiful viewpoint that shows an overview of the area you are stepping through!

When

It is always good walking here, except during the breeding season that runs from March 15 to June 30, when the northern part of the Kaltmthout heath is closed.

In winter, the open plains are bleak, especially in rainy weather. The heath turns grey, and the landscape looks very desolate. Snow and clear skies give fantastic views, fog makes the heath quiet and mysterious.

In spring (June to July) the wet heather blooms pink, and from full summer (August to September) the dry heather blooms and the landscape turns purple. Summers can be very hot here because of the white sand.

The hiking trails in the border park are freely accessible between sunrise and sunset. There is no hunting in the nature reserve.

A few short connectors are not accessible during the spring breeding period (March 15 to June 30). We avoided them in the walk.

In very dry periods in the summer there is a risk of fire on the heath. Very exceptionally, the area even has to be closed off. Check this first by telephone at the visitor center De Vroente.

Start & end point: De Vroente

- Address: Putsesteenweg 19, 2920 Kalmthout

-Website:

www.grensparkkalmthoutseheide.com

- Phone: 03/620 18 30

- By car: there is ample parking in front of De Vroente

- By public transport: smooth train connection from Antwerp to kalmthout - Heide station. Then walk another 1.6 km to De Vroente.

Practical info

This walk starts at the visitor center 'De Vroente' where the tourist office of the municipality of Kalmthout and a tavern are located. You can go here for information, a hiking map, sanitary facilities, cafeteria, information about accommodation.

Along the way there are no facilities, the walk runs continuously through nature reserve without any habitation. Bring your own picnic.

For those who find the Kalmthoutse Heide too far for a day trip: there is a good range of hotels, holiday homes, bed & breakfasts and campsites in Kalmthout. The tourist office will give you all the info.

Tourist office website : www.toerismekalmthout.be

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WARNING

Since 2021, the northern part of the Kaltmthout heath has been closed by the forester of the Nature and Forest Agency during the breeding season that runs from 15 March to 30 June.

This walk is NOT accessible.

The lizard hiking trail will also be temporarily closed and the GR5 North Sea - Mediterranean will follow an alternative route.

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This walk is part of a series of top hikes in Flanders.

There is always a variant of +/-12 km and one of +/- 20 km.

https://www.wandelpunt.be