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Flanders

South Limburg

Platwijers Nature Reserve – View of Kleine Vijver loop from Vlaams Natuurreservaat Platwijers

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Belgium

Flanders

South Limburg

Platwijers Nature Reserve – View of Kleine Vijver loop from Vlaams Natuurreservaat Platwijers

Moderate

4.8

(422)

1,262

hikers

Platwijers Nature Reserve – View of Kleine Vijver loop from Vlaams Natuurreservaat Platwijers

02:50

11.2km

30m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: July 15, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Vlaams Natuurreservaat Platwijers

Natuurreservaat Rode Vijvers-Wijvenheide

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

1.27 km

Platwijers Nature Reserve

Highlight • Natural

In the southwest of Zonhoven, along the Hasselt-Mol railway line, lies the Platwijers nature reserve. The area covers approximately 100 hectares.

Platwijers mainly consists of artificial fish ponds and grasslands. The introduction of water enriched with nutrients has not proven beneficial for the rich flora. As a result, the vegetation is increasingly overgrown with bushes.

However, this nature reserve is primarily known for its rich bird population. Numerous species find a suitable resting and breeding place here. Most paths in the nature reserve are therefore closed to the public, as the birds would otherwise be too disturbed.

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1.78 km

Vlaams Natuurreservaat Platwijers

Nature Reserve

3.57 km

Vrankenweijer Pond with Water Lilies

Highlight • Lake

There is a small bench at this fish pond. It is one of several privately owned and behind the bench you will find a small fence. However, a walking path was provided so that you can enjoy the view. Depending on where you come, there is a pond with water lilies a little further or earlier, but there is more vegetation in front of it. Otherwise beautiful.

Translated by Google •

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3.92 km

Reflecting Pond

Highlight • Lake

The pond landscape looks like a huge mirror broken into thousands of individual pieces. When the weather is nice, it flashes and sparkles like a diamond or like a disco ball (depending on your (pop) culture background). No matter what you see in it: It's beautiful!

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5.28 km

De Wijers Observation Tower, Zonhoven

Highlight • Viewpoint

The 15-meter-high lookout tower in the Bolderdal pond area is partly in the water and offers a view over the hundreds of ponds.
From the 15 meter high tower you can enjoy a breathtaking view over the ponds. If you don't dare go up, you can enjoy the panorama through the periscope.

Translated by Google •

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5.52 km

View of Kleine Vijver

Highlight • Lake

You can safely take Kleine Vijver with a grain of salt, at least if you interpret it literally without context. Quite a few ponds and also the wine areas themselves (eg Platwijers) have existed since before most visitors were born. The Small Pond is the one with the watchtower and you immediately see that it is anything but small.

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6.04 km

Birdwatching hide at 't Winkeltje, Rode Vijvers–Wijvenheide Nature Reserve

Highlight • Structure

This first of two bird hides a short distance from each other overlooks a pointer that was baptized 't Winkeltje. And just like the others, you will also find a lot of information, including info and questions tailored to the kids.

Translated by Google •

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6.36 km

Path Among the Fish Ponds

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

In 1865, Antoon Bijnens was the first to register as a fish farmer. His company grew into no less than six fish farms. Of these, three are still located in Zonhoven, still owned by his descendants.

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8.03 km

Bosreservaat Galgenberg

Nature Reserve

10.4 km

Bridge Over the Slangbeek

Highlight • Bridge

In 2024, a new cycling and walking bridge was placed over the Slang(e)beek. A little further on, the Paalsteen is located on the border of Hasselt and Zonhoven. The bridge is a gateway to the Platwijers nature reserve, part of the De Wijers pond region.

Translated by Google •

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11.2 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

5.89 km

3.00 km

1.30 km

958 m

Surfaces

3.44 km

3.36 km

1.97 km

1.29 km

1.10 km

Elevation

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

Weather

Tuesday 14 July

30°C

18°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 15.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

January 19, 2024,Platwijers-Wijvenheide, Startplaats Heidestrand, rode route

Experience De Wijers at its best with a walk along the pond dikes of Wijvenheide and Platwijers. This route connects the two nature reserves. Climb the observation tower and learn all about birds from the hides. So don't forget your binoculars!

Starting points:
* Heidestrand, Zwanestraat 105, 3520 Zonhoven
* Paalsteen, intersection of Paalsteenstraat and Langvennestraat, 3511 Kuringen

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July 16, 2024,Wandeling @Wijers Zonhoven ☀️🌧☀️🌧

Started in full ☀️, then in the pouring rain (could participate in the 'wet-tshirt' competition 🤪), then again ☀️... and so the walk continued.
The animals I got for the 📷 made up for it all 🤩
📷 small reed warbler (juvenile)
📷 super cute tree frogs
📷 map 🦋
📷 green frog
📷 blue heron
📷 great egret
📷 …

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September 22, 2025,Platwijers Wijvenheide (B): Route Rot 🟥

"Welcome to one of Europe's most valuable natural areas: De Wijers. A breathtaking setting with over 1,000 ponds, home to hundreds of rare animals and plants. This magnificent water paradise stretches across seven municipalities in the heart of Limburg. It offers over 26,000 hectares of water landscape and over 260 km of hiking trails."

natuurpuntlimburg.be/media/docs/natuurgebieden/platwijzers%20-%20wijvenheide.pdf

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October 2, 2023,B- Zonhoven, DeWijers - 10.3 km

Parking: Zonhoven, Zwanenstraat 105 (très grans parking)

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January 23, 2024,Wandeling @ De Wijers Zonhoven

Just a coffee chat, but a walking chat with a friend 🥰
📷 stayed in the stable today 😅

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March 19, 2024,Inspiratie; Uitkijktoren Wijers Zonhoven – Zicht op Kleine Vijver rondtocht vanuit Kempische Wijk [rood 🔴] 🇧🇪🥾🎶🕊️☁️⛅☀️

Start walks Platwijers Paalsteen
Parking lot Slangbeekweg Hasselt

Flemish Nature Reserve De Platwijers
Beautiful walk [red] between the fens, highly recommended. different starting places, see link, also for other possibly shorter routes. 😎

Platwijers Wijvenheide
9.1 km (12400 steps) 2 h 17 min red [triangle]
wandeleninlimburg.be/nl/routes/3377858
• This long route introduces you to the heart of De Wijers with the …

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September 17, 2023,Wandeling @De Wijers Zonhoven

Once again to "De Wijers", it remains a beautiful place for walking! The sun remained hidden behind the clouds, but that did not make it any less warm. The mosquitoes also managed to find us 🙈 Not on camera but spotted: the bittern that flew away and the kingfisher that flew past like a rocket. Today's "models": blue herons, a …

Showing Translation

February 13, 2022,Wandeling de wijers

Is red triangle walk with a small detour around a pond.

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Platwijers Nature Reserve – View of Kleine Vijver loop from Vlaams Natuurreservaat Platwijers

Platwijers Nature Reserve

Vrankenweijer Pond with Water Lilies

Reflecting Pond

De Wijers Observation Tower, Zonhoven

View of Kleine Vijver

Birdwatching hide at 't Winkeltje, Rode Vijvers–Wijvenheide Nature Reserve

Path Among the Fish Ponds

Bridge Over the Slangbeek

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