Merode - Beeltjes and the Kwarekken

Stroll along the Grote Nete.
These areas are a stone’s throw from the centre of Westerlo. They form part of the Merode area, a contiguous landscape that extends across the provinces of Antwerp, Flemish Brabant and Limburg. The Beeltjes and the Kwarekken are also known as the ‘backyard of Westerlo’ or ‘creek country’. Here you will find pine trees in a beautiful park landscape. Stroll over to the crossroads called ‘de ster’, or the star, with its eight streets, or discover the Asberg, the highest point in Westerlo. The lower-lying areas called the Kwarekken are very close to the Grote Nete. All manner of swamp plants feel quite at home here. 

The role of Kempens Landschap
For centuries, the princes of Merode controlled the region. In 2004, the Flemish Community bought the adjacent greenspace of around 1,500 hectares in order to be able to preserve it in its entirety. This was the start of a regional project to which Kempens Landschap also contributed. Our organisation purchased not only the Beeltjes and the Kwarekken in 2006, but also the Witput in Herselt and the building Den Eik in Laakdal. An integrated plan taking into account nature, culture, recreation and the local economy was drawn up for the entire area.