The best family-friendly hikes and walks in Domein De Hees

I kept the mill running all day

From the bicycle/pedestrian bridge you have a beautiful view over the canal

bench on a drier part of the walk in the middle of the greenery

The Venmeir is an old clay pit. Now it is an oasis of peace in the Kievitsheide. A walking path winds around the water feature. Many sloping, descending strips of sand invite you to take a dip. Up to the ankles and no further. It is forbidden to swim in the clay pits. Why? Cold spots in the water are dangerous for muscle cramps and can lead to drowning.

The Kievitsheide was once part of the more than 900 hectare Abstheide, which extended over the territory of the current municipalities of Beerse, Merksplas and Rijkevorsel. However, a large part of the historic "Kievit Heyde" was excavated in the 19th century for artisanal clay extraction, the rest was planted with coniferous trees. Now the Kievitsheide is a beautiful walking area where children can romp in the play zone and dogs can enjoy themselves in the dog zone.

Rectory house was built in 1907-1908 according to a design by J. Taeymans, founded "at the cement factory of Beerse". This building is a protected monument.

The establishment of the Sint-Jozef parish (Royal Decree of 1906) is a direct result of the socio-economic opening up of the former Kievitsheide. The impetus was given by the extension of the Dessel-Turnhout canal to Sint-Lenaarts in 1864-1866, soon built on both sides with brick factories; The decisive factor was the establishment of the cement factory in Beerse in 1889, which resulted in the construction of 120 workers' houses in the nearby area, both in Beerse and Rijkevorsel, and a large increase in population. Initially, a temporary church was founded in a barn at the Stevennekens. In 1907, the building land for the new church was purchased and work started the same year. The architect was J. Taeymans, see memorial stone on the east side of the baptismal chapel. Opening of the new church on September 26, 1909. Source: Immovable Heritage Inventory

An ideal location with a beautiful view of 'De Vaart' to press your pause button. Go back in time and muse about the origins of the Kempisch Canal and the community of 'De Cementzaken' = nickname of the residents of Sint-Jozef Rijkevorsel. Historical explanation about De Vaart: The Dessel-Turnhout-Schoten canal was already inaugurated in Turnhout in 1846. From 1866 to 1874 it was extended to Schoten. The Vaart was dug with a spade. In 1890 it was widened by about three meters. When the canal was completed, ring or Hoffmann kilns (brickworks) and homes were built. This was the basis for the creation of the Sint-Jozef parish in 1906. The major expansion will include the CBR cement factory on the Beerse - Rijkevorsel border. During that period, 120 homes, a tram station and a hotel were built. On September 20, 1885, the first steam tram Antwerp - Hoogstraten ran here on the bank. The shipment of goods from the cement factory and the transport for Merksplas-Kolonie took place along a track, constructed in 1884 from Bridge 8 to Merksplas-Kolonie. This line was broken off during WWII. The cement factory also constructed a 150 m long quay and a 2 ha basin. The turning basin is now a fish spawning area.