The Doode Bemde is anything but dead. This nature reserve along the Dijle counts more than 250 hectares and is the most accessible nature reserve in Flemish Brabant with its 9 kilometers of hiking trails. You walk through a mosaic of wet grasslands, pocket forests, reed beds, ponds and small fields. The river meanders freely through its original meanders and is regularly allowed to overflow its banks. That interplay of water and land creates a wide variety of plants and animals. The name refers to "unusable grasslands," but for nature this is actually a paradise.
Practical
During wet periods (October-March), boots are highly recommended in the valley.
Dogs are welcome on a leash.
Make an appointment with the information center of the Friends of Heverlee Forest & Meerdaal Forest for a guided hike.