Hike through the Beerze valley, past well-known but also less well-known fens in the Kampina and through the Banisveld. On the Kampina the walking tour goes along three famous fens; Belversven, Huisvennen and the Zandbergsvennen. Lesser known fens are the Klein Glasven, Kattelaarsput and the Ansumven. These are on the edge of the Kampina and the brook valley, which makes them richer in food, the fens have been cleaned up and are clearly visible in the landscape.
Distance: 24 km.
Time: 6h00.
Grade: Heavy.
Type: Circular.
Gps Track: Yes.
Route description: Yes.
Wheelchair: Not suitable.
Dog: Allowed.
Height gain: No information.
Trail: 96% unpaved.
Marking: See PDF route description.
Hiking shoes recommended.
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Kampina and Banisveld.
Furthermore, the grave monument of Pieter Gerbrand van Tienhoven is visited, the monument reminds of a large conservationist. The Beerze is a stream with swamp zones, fish stairs, sandy bank edges and flood plains. The Banisveld, this is a 90-hectare former agricultural area on which natural processes can create a new landscape. In the area there is a "Tour de Frans" watchtower on a hill that offers a beautiful view over the Banisveld.
Download PDf for route description.
Practical information: In case of high water in the Beerze stream, an alternative route can be followed.
POI 1 - Enclave Balsvoort.
In 2015, one of the foundations of the five farms that once formed the enclave was made visible again in the landscape. Around the buildings were fields, ponds and wooded banks. If you look around you, these landscape elements are still recognizable in this part of the Kampina. There is also a bank that reminds the Schut brothers who were executed during the Second War because of their resistance activities.
No additional information.
POI 2 - Van Tienhoven burial monument.
Van Tienhoven never lived in Boxtel, but found this to be the most beautiful place in the Netherlands and wanted to be buried there after his death. That happened shortly after his death in 1953, under specially selected stray boulders from Ootmarsum and Havelte. Few know that the name of "Great Dutch nature conservationist", as his epitaph in Kampina reads, still lives on in nature conservation circles. There is even a foundation named after the Amsterdammer born in 1875, who presents the Van Tienhoven Award every two years to people who, everywhere in the world, have made a special contribution to the protection of nature.
No additional information.
POI 3 - Watchtower Tour de Frans.
The tower is named after former forest ranger Frans Kapteijns and has been nicknamed 'Tour de Frans'. When he retired, he expressed the wish for a new watchtower in his beloved Kampina nature reserve. Through crowdfunding, Twitter followers from Frans, nature lovers and organizations from the region raised a large sum of money.
No additional information.
POI 4 - The Spoordonk Watermill.
The Spoordonkse Watermolen dates from 1320 and runs entirely on hydropower from the Beerze. It is the westernmost water mill in the Netherlands. The mill is equipped with two water wheels. A water wheel was used as a drive for an oil mill, with which linseed was processed into linseed oil. This water wheel is currently used for generating electricity, green energy in the most environmentally friendly way. The other water wheel still has its original function, namely to process grain into flour by hydropower. The drive is entirely through wooden gears, there are still authentic elements from 1320, while many parts have been replaced over the centuries. If the water level allows it, the mill still grinds plenty of grain in the same way as centuries ago.
Spoordonkse Watermolen.
www.spoordonksewatermolen.nl.
