Balen Sand Dunes

53 - 8 - 9 - 96 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 10 - 12 - 162 - 13 - 93 - 15 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 7 - 53

The start of this route is located at Recreation and Nature Park Keiheuvel in Balen. The name of the hiking network (Kempense Landduinen) says it all: dunes appear here and there in the landscape, remnants of ancient drift dunes. You pass beautiful stretches of nature and surprisingly quiet spots.

Here you will discover the Antwerp Kempen at its best: you will see that dunes are not only to be found by the sea. The first part of the hike runs through the Keiheuvel nature reserve, where you will see the occasional glider launching or landing over the beautiful landscape. This protected area contains valuable plants and animals in a beautiful landscape. A few miles further on you'll hike through De Most, a wet valley area that contrasts with the dry land dunes you've just discovered. In wet weather it can be swampy here; we did the hike on a dry day and this was quite doable.

Adapted footwear, especially after a wet period, is recommended. After about 7 km of walking you come to Kerkhoven where you can deviate briefly from the route and cross the bridge over the canal to Beverlo, surrounded by peace and quiet. On the other side of this canal is an extremely cozy resting place: Restaurant Taverne de Waterkant. Then you walk back along the canal and past meadows and forests towards Keiheuvel.