Schinveldse Forests

The ideal autumn walk through one of the most beautiful forests in South Limburg
 

Right by the German border, in the northeast of South Limburg, lies a lovely stretch of continuous woodland: the Schinveldse Forest. Covering 308 hectares, it is still relatively unknown, so you won’t have to share it with half the province. This walk of about 8.5 kilometres starts and ends at Brasserie HeerLuX in Schinveld, where parking is free.

What is now forest was not always so. For centuries, the northern part was open heathland, until Scots pine was planted there in the early twentieth century as a commercial forest, providing timber for the mines and construction on sandy soil where sheep had once grazed. The southern and eastern parts have an older character: oaks and beeches grow here on loess soil, bordering the valley of the Roode Beek, with damp heathland and sloping fen. Natuurmonumenten manages the area and is gradually transforming the coniferous forest in the north into more varied broadleaf woodland.

The paths and the forest

The paths alternate between wide and sandy in the coniferous forest and narrower, more natural ones in the broadleaf woodland towards the stream valley. Overall, it’s an easy walk, with no steep slopes like those further into the Heuvelland, though there are some roots, loose ground and a damp patch or two near the Roode Beek. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it with a stroller, but it’s easy enough on foot for almost everyone.

Along the way, you’ll pass through both types of woodland: the quiet, orderly pine forest in the north and the more varied broadleaf woodland, with oaks and beeches, towards the south. Leiffenderveld glider airfield lies at the northern edge and has been in use since 1974. So don’t be surprised to see a glider silently swooping overhead as you walk among the trees.

The Scottish Highland cattle

Part of the area is grazed by Scottish Highland cattle, which roam freely here all year round—a fine example of nature management, wouldn’t you say? Their grazing keeps the landscape open and varied in a way a lawnmower simply can’t. They are generally calm animals, but they are large and sturdy, so keep a respectful distance and let them go about their business, especially if there are calves around.

Nonke Buusjke: a village from 1900

Along the way, you’ll pass the Nonke Buusjke open-air museum, a collection of restored South Limburg half-timbered buildings that together show what life and work were like around 1900. At its centre is an authentic little farmhouse, surrounded by a bakehouse, a distillery, a weaving cottage, a clog-making workshop and a cobbler’s workshop. They all feature original furnishings and tools from that period. It’s really well done! The name comes from the Limburgish dialect word for “uncle” and gives the museum a warm, farmstead-like feel.

Please note: Nonke Buusjke is open only on Sundays, from 12:00 to 17:00, from Easter Monday through the last Sunday in October. You can still walk past outside these hours, but you won’t be able to go inside.

Practical information

Start/parking: free parking at Brasserie HeerLuX, Schinveld

Distance: approx. 8.5 km

Terrain: easy walking, but not necessarily suitable for strollers (roots, loose ground and a damp stretch by the stream)

Along the way: Schinveldse Forest (coniferous and broadleaf woodland), Scottish Highland cattle, Nonke Buusjke open-air museum (Sundays only, April through the last Sunday in October)