Attractions and Places To See around Grobbendonk - Top 20

The Kesselse Heide is a provincial green space covering 79 hectares, 61 of which are open to the public. The initial acquisition took place in 1978, and it has been expanded since then. The entrance is located in Nijlen, at Vaerestraat 4. The space is freely accessible daily from sunrise to sunset. There are two ponds in the area. These old wells not only provide a pleasant change of scenery but are also a boon for the many plants and animals. Since 1996, the Kesselse Heide has been a protected landscape. It is one of the few remaining remnants of the once vast Kempen heathlands. The heath is a living community created in our region by humans. Historical agricultural practices created a landscape that has been preserved through human intervention: grazing by sheep, burning the heath, and sod cutting. Sod cutting is the removal of the topsoil and vegetation. A dug-out sod of plants and their roots is a sod. If heathland is left untreated, it will evolve into oak and birch forests, and the typical species associated with a heathland habitat will disappear. In the mid-19th century, the Kesselse Heide—like many other parts of the Kempen region—was afforested with Scots pine, a valuable timber for mining. However, during both World Wars, these sod-covered forests were felled, and from then on, the heathland was able to expand again. Current management consists of removing trees and mechanically cutting sods to give the open heathland every chance to thrive. https://youtu.be/NoPf0HSeFz8

The Kesselse Heide-Het Goor area consists of a variety of nutrient-poor meadows, pastures, marshes, and ponds, bordered and crisscrossed by enclosed landscape types, and contains numerous landscape elements. The area is characterized by a richly varied and sometimes rare flora. Several historic farm buildings can be found within the area. The Kesselse Heide-Het Goor area, with an area of approximately 2,620 hectares, is located between the villages of Nijlen and Kessel, north of the Lier-Herentals road. The northern border of this area is along Vogelzangstraat, the eastern border along Achterbist, Kannaertsstraat, and Goorstraat. The Grote Steenweg forms the southern border, and the western border is formed by Heidestraat and Vaerestraat. The landscape includes the following topographical areas: "Kannaerdsche Heyde," "Kesselse Heide," "Mol Heide," "Achterbiest," "Het Hoog Bosch," "De Hooge Heide," "Het Armveld," "De Schommers" or "Vissen Eynde," "Het Goor," "Het Goorkasteel," and "Hoge Heyde." Several streams traverse the area, specifically the Goorkantloop, the Elstbeek, the Paddenloop, Blauwe Hoekloop, and the Visbeek. The elevation within the area varies from approximately 5 meters +TAW to approximately 10 meters +TAW. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Kesselse Heide-Het Goor, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/302886

Nice ride next to the small nete canal

Very nice walk with a lot of variety in landscapes and terrain.

Is just a fantastic ride! Small and narrow roads with little traffic (cars). Few cycle paths. Great cycling!

Het Zwart Water is a nature reserve southwest of the town of Lichtaart, which is part of the Antwerp municipality of Kasterlee, located near Lavendelweg 1-3. The area is managed by the Agency for Nature and Forests. The area is located on the Kempense Heuvelrug and consists of a fen that used to be in a drifting sand and heathland area, but was largely forested with conifers during the 19th century. On the edge of the fen you will find bog myrtle thickets, willow swamp forest and poor grassland. There is a floating dome in the fen that forms a safe resting place for birds. The forest is gradually being transformed into more mixed forest. In addition, there are remnants of heathland.

The Defense Line of Antwerp was decided upon by the choice of Antwerp as the National Reduit in 1859. The idea behind this was that Antwerp was most suitable as a last fortress until help from allies could arrive. The National Reduit would consist of: a siege wall, a fort belt and underwater settlements. The fort belt would consist of eight Brialmont forts (built in 1859) in an 18 km long belt from Wijnegem to Hoboken. After the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, it was initially decided to build three bridgehead forts and then to build an outer line adapted to more modern weapons. The latter plan was ratified by law of March 30, 1906. This main resistance position included 16 forts and 10 redoubts on the right bank and 5 forts and 2 redoubts on the left bank.

In the Kempen region, heathland is a cultural landscape that developed long ago through the frequent grazing of sheep on poor sandy soils. Since then, heathland has become valuable and rare. The Kesselse Heide provincial green space is all that remains of a much larger heathland area. Since 2023, the Kesselse Heide can also be explored as a heritage site. Various information boards provide information on folklore, landscape features, the wartime history, and more. You can find some photos of these new boards in the photo section of this highlight.