Grey skies. Bare branches reaching out and clawing at the pale sun. Toadstools and birch mushrooms that crawl across mossy tree trunks and smooth stones.
The crunch of brittle red, orange, and yellow leaves under heavy boots. The scent of wet wood and the tiktiktik of a single, lonely woodpecker… the forests surrounding the Maasplassen feel somber but in the most beautiful, melancholic way. They call it Waldeinsamkeit in German.
It’s that specific feeling you get from standing in a forest alone, feeling small, and being one with the nature around you. You want to embrace the loneliness and watch the last wisps of summer die out.
In Limburg, we know how to deal with this feeling all too well. During the fall holidays, the forests of Limburg bustle with exciting hikes and activities. That’s why we will take a peek down the roads less traveled and discover what adventures lie hidden in the foliage for the coming autumn months.
Are you ready to come eye-to-eye with a lion? Neither are we. Way too scary! Luckily, you won’t have to worry about lions on this safari. On the 2nd of November, Mieke the nature guide, will stand ready to dive into the forests in search of chestnuts, acorns, beechnuts, and more at the Kiewit estate to the north of Hasselt. Families with kids aged 4 or older are welcome to wander in wonder whilst discovering the autumn plants and animals that call the trees their home. Afterward, the children can further enjoy themselves in the play forest or at the playground of Taverne Koe-vert.
Dwarves sitting on toadstools and fairies dancing on leaves. Grumpy tree folk and teetering tree sprites. Do they really exist? Who knows… all we know is that magic reigns free in the Hamse forests. Are you ready to go on a magical hike amongst the fairy tale trees between the 28th of October and the 6th of November? Follow the sparkling lights and bump into mysterious figures. Listen to enchanting music and be awed by the riveting fire show. Afterward, you can relax and rejuvenate with a wintery bite and drink at the Bosbar.
Pratsj… the building blocks, the true essence of the great Limburg outdoors. What does it mean? Mud, muck, dirt, gook, sludge, gunk… Pratsj is all of those things. So, find yourself a rainy day (or the day after), put on your wellies, select the most sludge-filled route out there, and go stamp on ahead! Stamp, jump, march, slip, and slosh through the true, Limburgian mud! Our recommendations: the Beekdal route in Schinnen (7.1km), Ommetje Maasdal (5,7km), the Vijlener forest route (4,5km) and the Ravenbosch Valkenburgh route at De Geul (3,6). But above all, stamp wherever you want to stamp!
Alright… probably not the Big 5 you’re expecting, but still pretty impressive! Parc Maasresidence Thorn lies between no less than six stunning nature areas, each harboring their own fascinating wildlife. If you wake up really early during your autumn holiday and head on over to the forests very quietly, you might just catch a glimpse of a red deer, the largest land mammal in the Netherlands! Also, keep an eye on all of the foxholes.
The Limburgian foxes are shy and won’t show themselves so readily! Maybe, if you’re lucky, you might also see a mother wild boar and her younglings cross the road. Sit by the water for a while to see if you can spot a beaver diligently working to block the water. If the beaver suddenly scampers off, then make sure to look up. He might well be hiding from a buzzard, one of the largest birds of prey in the Netherlands. Will you spot all five of them this fall?
The forests of Limburg are a natural heritage of immeasurable value to all of The Netherlands. The local nature’s incredible colors, scents, and… pratsj are truly unparalleled during the fall. We would recommend for everyone to go out and embrace the fresh autumn air. Afterward, you can come warm up those rosy cheeks in your private villa or apartment at Parc Maasresidence Thorn. Drink a cup of hot chocolate at Humphrey’s Thorn and relax your limbs in the warm indoor pool.
At one moment during your fall break holiday, you’re Waldeinsam in the vast forests of Limburg, and the next you’re surrounded by the intense luxury of our resort. A contrast for sure, but a harmonious one.
