Stokkem

The walking area of Stokkem shows you a very diverse river landscape. For bird lovers, the ponds in 'Negenoord-Kerkeweerd’ nature reserve are a must. If you decide on the Stokkem hiking region, you will be treated to flower and herb displays on the dikes, along with old Meuse meanders. The Old Meuse in Dilsen is one of the most striking Meuse meanders in the RivierPark Maasvallei. The town of Stokkem and Oud-Dilsen are anchors in a rich Maasland regional history.

Finally, the charming hamlet of Boyen is situated on the edge of the riverbed in a distinct agricultural environment.

Negenoord-Kerkeweerd

Countless waders, smaller songbirds and species such as yellowhammer, stonechat and nightingale do well here. There are even several flocks of kingfishers breeding. The ponds are surrounded by ecologically rich banks. It is a colourful and herbal patchwork of grasslands, willow woodland and floodplain forest. Limburg's Landschap vzw manages the area. Galloway cattle and Konik horses are used to graze the area.

Kerkeweerd is the most species-rich area along the Meuse when it comes to plants. The relief in the landscape, which was created after gravel-extraction and subsequent filling-in, followed by a few floods of the Meuse, features a V-shaped lake. It is located within the river bed and is swallowed up by the Meuse at high tide. That way, all kinds of seeds are brought, which make for a colourful sea of flowers in the spring.

The two lakes of Negenoord are the result of gravel extraction. Thanks to redevelopment works in the context of flood protection by ‘De Vlaamse Waterweg’, the area has been given the best possible opportunities to develop back into ‘wild’ nature. Limburg's Landschap vzw manages the area. This is achieved by using Galloways and Koniks that graze throughout the year and thus manage the development of grasslands, thickets and floodplain forests.