Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide puts silence and darkness in the spotlight
For the first time, Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide is taking part in the ‘Night of the Night’. Together with the annual ‘Day of Silence’, on 24 and 25 October the ‘ Grenspark ’, in collaboration with various partners, will be highlighting two natural resources that are essential for both people and nature: silence and darkness.
Silence and natural darkness are key components of a healthy ecosystem. Many animals need quiet and dark habitats in which to rest, find food, communicate and reproduce.
During the Night of the Night and Day of Silence, visitors can experience for themselves what silence and darkness mean for the landscape and for people. The programme brings together a variety of experiences: from a harp concert and sensory meditation to a lecture on bats, silent walks and a morning walk in the botanical garden of Arboretum Kalmthout.
A place where silence is still given free rein
Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide It has been officially recognised as a cross-border 3-star quiet area since 2015. This recognition followed extensive noise measurements on both the Flemish and Dutch sides of the nature reserve. The average noise level there is 35 dB(A), and extraneous sounds are audible for less than 20 per cent of the time.
“Anyone walking through the ‘ Grenspark ’ will notice just how much space there still is for natural sounds: rustling leaves, grazing animals, footsteps in the sand. As a cross-border 3-star quiet area, we want to keep this special quality of the landscape visible and audible, also for future generations,” says Lukas Jacobs, chair of Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide.
More than 1,000 species of moths
Natural darkness also deserves our attention. As soon as the sun sets, another part of nature comes to life: bats go hunting, moths seek out fragrant night-blooming flowers, and the nightjar makes its presence known above the heath. More than 1,000 species of moths have been recorded in the ‘ Grenspark ’. They are important pollinators and a food source for bats and birds, amongst others. By preserving dark areas, nocturnal animals are given the space they need.
Night of the Night in the Grenspark
This year, the Kalmthoutse Heide Nature Reserve ( Grenspark ) is taking part for the first time in the ‘Nacht van de Nacht’ (Night of the Night): an initiative by the Dutch Nature and Environment Federations that draws attention to the beauty of the night and the impact of artificial light. This ties in seamlessly with the Day of Silence, which the ‘ Grenspark ’ organises annually in recognition of its status as a 3-star silence area. By combining both events, silence and darkness are highlighted together over a single weekend.
Lose yourself in a harp concert or go on a silent walk
Saturday 24 October: Night of the Night
- Harp concert: a concert set against the nocturnal backdrop of the Karrenmuseum.
- Into the Dark: a sensory experience at the Holistic Centre -OM-.
- Bat talk: ecologist Kees Vreeburg will be speaking at Titurel about bats.
Sunday 25 October: Day of Silence
- Silent walk with ‘ Visit Kalmthout ’: discover the Kalmthoutse Heide in silence.
- Book launch ‘Vogel, Nest & Ei’: father-and-son duo Joris and Walter De Raedt are launching a new book at De Vroente.
- Into the silence: sensory meditation at the Holistic Centre -OM-.
- Morning walk: wake up in silence in the botanical garden of Arboretum Kalmthout.
Those who prefer to explore on their own can set off with the ‘silence bag’ from De Vroente: children and families can discover nature independently through a series of surprising activities.
Practical information
The Grenspark is open from sunrise to sunset. The activities during the ‘Night of the Night’, which take place after sunset, will be held at suitable and accessible locations.
Information and registration: grensparkkalmthoutseheide.com/en/dagvandestilte