Attractions and Places To See in Natuurreservaat De Maten - Top 12

The name Maten is related to the English "meadows". The area is part of De Wijers, a pond complex on the transition from the Kempens Plateau to the Demer Valley. On the poor sandy soils of the Kempen, fish farming was a source of extra protein. As early as the Middle Ages, series of ponds were created by means of simple cross-dikes in the valley. The overflow from one pond simultaneously forms the supply for the next pond. For the ponds in De Maten, the Stiemerbeek valley was dammed up several times. As fish farming became more intensive in the first half of the twentieth century, many ponds were given separate inlets and outlets. In De Maten, you will still find a mix of both systems. The water management is therefore a complex part of the management of one of the oldest nature reserves in Flanders.

The Slagmolen (Slag Mill) is a centuries-old watermill building in Genk (Termien), situated right on the edge of the De Maten nature reserve and the Stiemerbeek valley. Dating back to 1523, it is probably the oldest existing building in the city and served as a functioning watermill for centuries. This mill was powered by the water of the Stiemerbeek stream and its tributaries, meaning the wheel turned as soon as there was sufficient water in the stream. This technique was typical of rural life in the past, and the stream was regulated to keep the mill running. This created the area around De Maten into a dynamic landscape of water features and ponds. Today, the Slagmolen is no longer a typical working mill, but its ambition is high: after a thorough renovation, the building will be operational again and serve as an official visitors center for De Maten, featuring an information desk, café, and meeting space for hikers and nature lovers. The opening of this center is planned for the summer of 2026.

Homeleswijer is one of the characteristic ponds (wijers/ponds) you'll encounter during walks through the De Maten nature reserve in the Belgian province of Limburg. It lies within the watery landscape of the reserve, which is part of the larger De Wijers pond area, a network of natural and man-made ponds that originated from centuries-old fish farming traditions in the region. In De Maten, the Stiemerbeek stream and its tributaries formed the basis for pond complexes containing water features like the Homeleswijer. Dams and overflows made fish farming possible, creating a unique marsh and pond landscape full of reed beds, open water, and wet grasslands. Walking trails through De Maten—ranging from short loops to longer hikes—run along and around these ponds. They are true natural treasures: herons, waterfowl, and typical marsh plants can be found here, and information boards often line the path explaining the ecology and water management. Many walks along the Homeleswijer are signposted and start, for example, at the Slagmolen in Genk or at other access points in De Maten.

Major renovations are currently underway at the mill and the visitor center (March 2025)

With a fascinating information board about the different types of birds that you can find in De Maten.

In the Maten you will find a piece of authentic wine landscape with beautiful ponds, connected by heads and tails. It is the area par excellence for bird lovers, as the Wijers are a breeding area for numerous water and songbirds. The Augustijnenvijver is a stopping place for countless birds during bird migration. The routes connect Genk with Diepenbeek and guide you past the ponds of the Maten to the Diepenbekerbos.

The name Maten is related to the English "meadows". The area is part of De Wijers, a pond complex on the transition from the Kempen Plateau to the Demer valley. On the poor sandy soils of the Kempen, fish farming was a source of extra proteins. As early as the Middle Ages, series of ponds were constructed using simple cross dikes in the valley. The overflow from one pond simultaneously forms the supply for the next pond. For the ponds in De Maten, the Stiemerbeek valley was dammed several times. As fish farming became more intensive in the first half of the twentieth century, many ponds were given separate inlets and outlets. In De Maten, you can still find a mix of both systems. Water management is therefore a complicated part of the management of one of the oldest nature reserves in Flanders.

De Maten is located in the plain at the foot of the Kempen plateau. The alternation between dry dunes, heathland and ponds provides a large and fascinating wealth of plants and animals. When the ponds are dry, typical vegetation develops with floating water plantain, coniferous rush, glass ducks, egg-shaped water rush... This area is important for birds such as bittern, wood monkey, great egret, marsh harrier and gadwall. You will also find the tree frog and the garlic toad, two amphibians with a special way of life.