Huis ter Heide Estate is located between the villages De Moer and Loon op Zand, northwest of Tilburg. It is a 958 ha attractive nature reserve with fens, fields, varied deciduous and coniferous forests and a country house from 1864. City noises and highway nuisance rarely penetrate the forest area. During this short but varied walk you have a beautiful view of the Leikeven halfway. You will find Scottish Highlanders in the area. These large grazers ensure a better soil structure and variation in vegetation.
Distance: 6 km.
Time: 1h30.
Grade: Easy.
Type: Circular.
Gps Track: Yes.
Route description: Yes.
Wheelchair: Not suitable.
Dog: Allowed.
Height gain: Flat.
Trail: Paved and unpaved.
Marking: Red walking poles.
Hiking shoes recommended.
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A hidden gem.
Huis ter Heide estate is a hidden gem. You can walk in this water-rich bird paradise. During your walk you admire the noisy frogs and colorful dragonflies. You can also come face to face with Scottish Highlanders, who continue to eat undisturbed. You won't get closer to nature than this.
Download PDf for route description.
You can extend the route at Leikeven by taking the wooden path, follow the green marking and you will automatically return to this walking route.
POI 1 - De Moer.
On the right you see the village view of De Moer, on the left Huis ter Heide nature reserve. De Moer is one of the three church villages of Loon op Zand. The village owes its name to the peat that used to be here. Peat areas or peat bogs where peat was or are being cut were also called 'moer'.
Natuurmonumenten.
www.natuurmonumenten.nl.
POI 2 - Frog pond.
Enjoy the views from the bench and admire the characteristic tree. Walk into the path opposite the bank and discover the pool where, among other things, the green frog lives. Along the bank of the pool grow yellow iris, floating fountain weed, water sorrel and arrow herb. In the spring and summer you can see the common damselfly and the azure damselfly flying around here. The fin-legged salamander, comb-salamander and pile frog live in several fens in the nature reserve. The latter is known for its color change during the mating season at the end of February. The males then turn completely blue.
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POI 3 - Hard wood.
Enter the estate through an avenue of beautiful trees: the Robinia pseudoacacia. In the past, this acacia was used by Brabant farmers as whey. It is hardwood, so it does not decay quickly and it is stronger than oak. The trunk of the Robinia usually has deep grooves, the branches are bare and have sharp spines. The leaf grows fairly late on the tree and has egg-shaped, smooth-edged leaves. The tree is in bloom in June and July and then smells wonderfully sweet.
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POI 4 - Leike fen.
Leave the forest behind you and look out over the Leikeven. A beautiful view over a fen that was largely cultivated for agriculture. Natuurmonumenten has dug 40 to 50 cm from the fertilized top layer here on 400 hectares to realize the current "puddle-grass" area with the Lobelia project. From the wooden path you can very well see the special plants that belong on the wet heath, including the carnivorous plant Sundew. If you want an extra walk (2.5 km), follow the green arrows and walk all the way around Leikeven. You will automatically return to the red hiking route.
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POI 5 - View point.
Look from the view point for the birds of the Leikeven, such as the bluethroat, teal, snipe and shelduck. And who knows, with a bit of luck, the Scottish highlanders are bathing in the pond. There are around 90 cattle in the nature reserve in two separate herds. The Scottish highlanders help Natuurmonumenten to keep the area open.
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