DISCOVER WORLD WAR I ON THE GREEN BICYCLE ROUTEHOGE KEMPEN NATIONAL PARK

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LOOP 3: ROUND THE HOGE KEMPEN NATIONAL PARKAND ALONG THE FLIEGER-SCHIESS SCHULE IN AS AND THE RELICS OF THE MINENWERFER SCHULE ON THE MECHELSE HEIDE (40.2 KM).

If you arrive from Loop 39 (intersection 2) and you want to cycle to Maasmechelen, then cycle on in the direction of intersection 40.

If you want to start on Loop 3, you can start from any point. From the Mechelse Heide entrance gate (at intersection 60), you can start on a walk through the Mechelse Heide.

1: HEIDERBOS. [HEATHLAND FOREST]The wooded area you are cycling through is the Heiderbos. The largest population of juniper shrub species in West Europe grows here: at least 7,000 shrubs. The juniper shrubs are our ‘problem children’, for there are very few young shrubs. This is being studied by research scientists. If you have time, you can walk into the reserve here or via the entrance along the Kantonnal road. For more info, see: www.natuurenbos.be/heiderbos.

1: TURNING BEFORE INTERSECTION 40!(DETOUR FROM THE CYCLE ROUTE NETWORK)If you want to see the Offi cers’ Mess of the Fliegerschiess Schule and the cultivated poppies, you will have to make a detour from the cycle route network. Instead of turning left into the Ziepstraat in the direction of intersection 40, you should ride a little farther and turn right into the Nieuwstraat and follow this to the end. Then take the Dorpsstraat-Steenweg on the right. Cross the street at the chapel on the bend. Follow Bilzerweg. At the roundabout: cycle straight ahead (2nd exit) and continue along Bilzerweg (N730). During WWI, a large open, sandy heathland area (120 hectares) lay to the right of Bilzerweg and this was used as an airfi eld. Continue to the railway crossing (Kolenspoor [Coal track])..

WWI IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF AS.In 1916, the headquarters of the Minenwerfer Schule was set up in the barracks of the state police. These barracks have since been demolished. More than 1,000 German soldiers,

together with the soldiers of the Fliegerschiess Schule, were stationed in these newly built barracks; the offi cers were quartered with civilians. Later, the miners’ houses in As, Waterschei and Zwartberg were also commandeered.

2: FLIEGERSCHIESSSCHULE ASCH(FROM COAL TRACK).In March 1917, the Germans began building a Fliegerschiess Schule [pilot shooting school] here. Together with the Schietveld in Houthalen-Helchteren, the airfi eld shooting range covered 98 km2. To the right of the cycle path, from the coal track to farther along the Europalaan, stood large aircraft hangars, repair workshops, classrooms for theory lessons, a photography workshop, kitchens, accommodation for soldiers, stables, coach houses and a luxurious casino (Offi cers’ Mess). The building materials for all this were commandeered from the coal mine in Waterschei, which meant the mine had to close down temporarily. Nothing is left of the airfi eld, for the land has since been forested.

The aircraft used by the Germans were biplanes that seated 2 airmen: the pilot and the gunner-observer. The latter were trained here in shooting machine guns, dropping bombs and making aerial photographs. All the facilities for this were available here. To stop the bullets during shooting exercises on the ground, a soil embankment was constructed. This wooded area is named after that embankment: the Horensbergdam. A small section of that embankment can still be seen. After WWI, the airfi eld was used as a Belgian military fl ying school until 1924, after which everything was relocated to Wevelgem. Baroness de Beeckman started a summer camp for children in the buildings. All the buildings have been empty since 2003. The original offi cers’ mess (Casino) was completely rebuilt in 2013, based entirely on the original plans. The non-profi t organisation Arbeidskansen [Work Opportunities] is

Length of the route: (40,2 km)Di� culty level (max. = 3)

housed in the white building. This is the departure point for a bunker trail. You can also get something to drink here. Nothing remains of the large airfield. The area has been forested. ANB is responsible for the technical management. Today Horensbergdam has become the place to be for motorcross and go karting. Cross the crossroads, sowed with poppies, and continue in the direction of intersection 565. You can also choose to leave the route at intersection 41 at the Station As entrance gate.

2: HOGE KEMPEN NATIONAL PARK. You are now in Hoge Kempen National Park. This nature reserve, covering 5,700 hectares on the Kempen Plateau, is a hotspot of biodiversity. Follow the cycle path bearing left through the Bodembos. At the time of WWI, this was open heathland. After that, the heathland was extensively forested, for timber was used in the coal mines. The heathland therefore had an economic value. Cycle in the direction of intersection 565.

3: GRAVEL AND SAND. The Hoge Kempen National Park is a candidate World Heritage site, because here you can see different landscapes alongside each other, dating from prehistoric times to the period of the industrial revolution at the start of the 20th century. The ground contains a lot of gravel and very pure sand: natural raw materials of importance to construction and industry. Gravel and sand will be reclaimed from this quarry until 2030. At intersection 565, turn right in the direction of intersections 551, 60.

4: MINENWERFERSCHULE MECHELSE HEIDE ENTRANCE GATE. From 1916, the Mechelse Heide was used by the German 4th army as a training ground for its Minenwerferschule. From the Mechelse Heide entrance gate you can walk along the yellow trail (5.5 km) to see the relics (bunkers and bomb craters) of this Minenwerfer Schule. If you like, you can book a Ranger in advance, who will show you the trenches, which are otherwise not open to the general public. www.rlkm.be/nl/hoge-kempen/ga-op-pad-met-een-ranger/wandelingen/wo1-wandeling

3: MECHELSE HEIDE. The Mechelse Heide covers 700 hectares and is one of the largest heathland areas in Flanders. From the hilltops, nature serves up a spectacular view across the heathland and the Maasland. The cycle path lies at the foot of the Kempen Plateau. Ride in the direction of intersection 61.

5: KIKBEEKMOLEN CAMP SITE. Time for a breather? You can enjoy both food and drink in the camp site’s café.

4: KIKBEEKBRON. The Kikbeekbron is a former quarry. It is an enchanting mix of heathland, marshlands and watery areas. Where fjord ponies graze and where, during the summer, heather serves up a truly colourful spectacle. If you have time, follow the blue trail (5.3 km) or the green trail (3.2 km). Cycle in the direction of intersection 550 For many cyclists, the finest section of this loop! When you pass intersection 550, you can choose between: • shortening the route (7 km) by following the Heiwijckstraat to the centre of Zutendaal • or following the Graafgracht in the direction of intersection 62. From intersection 62, ride in the direction of intersection 532.

5: VALLEY OF THE BEZOENSBEEK AND THE BEZOENSBERG. The Bezoensberg is actually the southern edge of the Kempen Plateau. Quite a few juniper shrubs have been planted here. The seedlings were taken from the juniper shrubbery in the Heidebos in As. Cycle via the Broekerveldweg to intersection 64 and enjoy this beautiful, peaceful landscape.

6: ENTRANCE GATE DE LIETENBERG, BLOTEVOETENPAD [BAREFOOT TRAIL] The Lietenberg is one of the entrance gates to the Hoge Kempen National Park. You can pay a visit to the interactive insect museum, Entomopolis, or how about a walk on bare feet through nature? The Blotevoetenpad [Barefoot Trail] is really worth trying! From here, cycle further via the centre of Zutendaal to intersection 534.

7: GOLF COURSE SPIEGELVEN.Time for a stop? Enjoy a refreshing drink on the terrace of Stiemerheide Hotel. From here you can either cycle back to the starting point (intersection 39) or carry on to intersection 565, and then on farther to intersection 60 at the Mechelse Heide entrance gate. Are you looking for somewhere to spend the night? Click here: www.toerismelimburg.be

Foto: Karel Flipkens

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