Across the Besthmenerberg: forest, heath and the finest view in Ommen
6 km · 1h 30m · Moderate
Nature
Brunssummerheide
Zuid-Limburg
Purple as far as you can see
Step onto the Brunssummerheide and you sense at once that this is unlike the rest of South Limburg. No sunken lanes or timber framing here, but a wide, undulating landscape of drifting sands, fens and open heath. In August the heather turns purple and hums with bees; the air smells of resin and warm earth. It is the largest heath area of Limburg and is often described as the only heath of any real size in South Limburg.
A mosaic of wood, fen and drift sand
The heath lies on the triangle between Brunssum, Heerlen and Landgraaf and forms part of the cross-border Heidenatuurpark. Conifer and broadleaf woods alternate with open sand flats, small dunes and quiet fens. In the rust-brown Roode Beek, which rises here, the iron-rich water glimmers between the peat. One moment you walk in the shade of pines, the next you stand in full light on an open plain.
Life in the quiet
Slow your pace and you notice how rich this area is. Buzzards circle above the woods, at dusk the nightjar hunts, and dragonflies flit along the fens. Moor frogs, palmate newts and rare butterflies find their place here; that is why the heath is protected as a Natura 2000 site. Take your time, pause for a while, and let the heath give its sounds back to you.
From the Winselerhof you reach the edge of the heath in a handful of minutes. A morning here, an afternoon in the stream valley on the doorstep: that is South Limburg at its most varied.
Best seasons
Spring · Summer · Autumn
Things to do
- Walking
- Birdwatching and dragonfly spotting
- Experiencing the heather bloom
- Mountain biking
In the area
Location
Address
Zuid-Limburg
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Frequently asked questions
When does the heather bloom on the Brunssummerheide?
The heather usually turns purple in August. That is the time to walk here, though with its woods and fens the area is worthwhile all year round.
Is the Brunssummerheide really the largest heath in Limburg?
The heath is widely described as the largest heath area in Limburg and as the only heath of any real size in South Limburg. The protected Natura 2000 core covers more than 500 hectares; together with the surrounding nature and the Heidenatuurpark it is considerably larger.
How far is the Brunssummerheide from the Winselerhof?
From the Winselerhof near Landgraaf you reach the edge of the heath in a few minutes. The heath borders Landgraaf among other places, so you are quickly at one of the car parks where the walking routes begin.
