As Bicycle Bridge – Heiderbos Nature Reserve loop from Grote Plas

Bike touring routes & trails

As Bicycle Bridge – Heiderbos Nature Reserve loop from Grote Plas

Moderate

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As Bicycle Bridge – Heiderbos Nature Reserve loop from Grote Plas

03:01

52.1km

200m

Cycling

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: October 15, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Bosreservaat Lanklaarderbos - Saenhoeve

Natuurdomein Klaverberg

Vlaams Natuurreservaat Mechelse Heide

Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

123 m

Crossing of the floating bridge – Hoge Kempen National Park

Highlight (Segment) • Bridge

A great example of cycling tourism by Visit Limburg, a unique experience that will leave you speechless.

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2.19 km

Lanklaarderbos

Forest

7.13 km

As Bicycle Bridge

Highlight • Bridge

Bicycle bridge (of course also for walkers) over the busy Europalaan.

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7.49 km

Station As is a former railway station on lines 21A (Hasselt-As) and 21B (As-Eisden). The station building now houses a restaurant and the Kolenspoorvereniging (Coal Railway Association) uses it for the operation of the tourist railway line Waterschei-As-Eisden.

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11.3 km

Heiderbos Nature Reserve

Highlight • Forest

In 1970 the Heiderbos nature reserve was established to protect the largest remaining juniper population in Flanders. In addition to the conifers, there are also various types of heather, numerous breeding birds, amphibians, reptiles and insects.

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17.6 km

André Dumont Coal Mine (Waterschei) – Thor Park

Highlight • Historical Site

Thor Central is an impressive industrial building. After the hard coal plants were closed, it was considered a cultural heritage.
A restaurant, a brasserie and the Food Plaza invite you to stay and are open every day.

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18.0 km

Thor Central

Highlight • Monument

Beautiful place to take a nice walk on the roof of the mine, where the Black gold used to be brought up. Much respect to the miners.

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22.2 km

Arboretum Bret

Forest

40.3 km

Cycling through the Heath

Highlight • Bridge

Cycling across the heath takes you right through the Hoge Kempen National Park. In this park, vast pine forests alternate with endless heathlands. Thanks to the new connection between cycle …

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41.2 km

Cycling through the Mechelse Heide

Highlight (Segment) • Cycleway

The Mechelen heath is at its most beautiful in the months of August and September because the heather is then in full bloom.

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52.1 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

33.7 km

8.81 km

5.93 km

2.34 km

1.38 km

Surfaces

38.0 km

12.5 km

822 m

569 m

190 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (100 m)

Lowest point (40 m)

Weather

Wednesday 28 October

15°C

4°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 7.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

September 7, 2024,Nationalpark Kempen mit Historie und Natur

The Kempen National Park is located in Belgium, around 90 km from Cologne. It was created from an old mining area where hard coal was mined. Old winding towers can be found everywhere. On the route you learn about the historical background, pass notable points from the Second World War and there are highlights such as a snowboard jump waiting …

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April 12, 2025,Das schlagende Herz von Hoge Kempen (Visit Limburg 🇧🇪)

The tour is just under an hour's drive from Aachen and is a definite recommendation from us!

There are many sights to discover on well-maintained cycle paths. More information about the tour can be found at
visitlimburg.be/de/route/das-schlagende-herz-von-hoge-kempen

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April 29, 2024,Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen Topfietsroute Lus 2: Fietsen door de heide en tussen de mijnterrils (vertrek vanaf het NP Visitor Center)

Depart from the National Park Visitor Center. You can also rent your e-bike here. Follow the cycling junctions below, and you will end back at the National Park Visitor Center:
*Start at number 502 at the National Park Visitor Center
*Cycle through the garden districts of Eisden to number 60 at the Mechelse Heide
*Follow 551 and 550 and cycle …

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May 27, 2026,Naturreservat Heiderbos – Radfahren durch die Mechelse Heide Runde von Grote Plas

After we already crossed a part of the Belgian Hoge Kempen National Park three years ago. Today I was happy to experience a familiar green part again. There were sections that were new to me, e.g. As station.
Because of the heat 🥵, I wanted to finish it sportingly.
Average speed 22 km/h with an e-bike.😅
Ok, only marginally faster …

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