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Hemelrijk Entrance Gate

For a long cycle tour and a good dose of cultural history

Access Gate Hemelrijk is the gateway par excellence to discover the Grenspark and its surroundings by bike. The gate is located near some nice cultural activities such as the Karremuseum and you will find the tourist office de Tasberg. There is also a dog walking area, Finnish track and a play forest. The gate is also the ideal location to enjoy a drink and a bite to eat at restaurant De Kiekenhoeve.

Reception centre 'De Tasberg

At De Tasberg, the tourist information office of the municipality of Essen, you can get information on hiking, cycling and more.

  • Walking and cycling information: Get the best walking and cycling routes, including the Grenspark visitor map.
  • Local catering and lodging: Find out where to stay the night or have a nice meal nearby.
  • Regional products: Visit the shop and buy tasty local products as souvenirs.
  • Opening hours:
    Tuesday to Saturday: 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    Closed on Sundays, Mondays and public holidays

Karrenmuseum

Since 1950, a unique collection of carts, wagons and carriages grew into the Karrenmuseum. Discover the history of non-motorised transport through more than 300 vehicles.

  • Follow workshops in various workshops, such as: Braiding techniques in the rope-making workshop. Woodworking in the cartwright's workshop. Metal annealing in the forge.
  • Attend one of the many fascinating activities on the programme.
  • Opening hours:
    The Karremuseum is open from February to November.
    Tuesday to Sunday (and public holidays): 10am-4.30pm.

Access

Access Gate Hemelrijk is easily accessible by bicycle, public transport and car. We encourage you to come to the gate in a sustainable way and enjoy nature.

  • By train: From Antwerp, Brussels and Roosendaal you can take the train directly to Essen. From Essen station it is about 1 km walking or cycling to access gate Hemelrijk. Visit the SNCB website for timetables.
  • By bicycle: The entrance gate is easily accessible by bicycle. There is a bicycle shed and a bicycle repair column.
  • By car: There is free parking at Hemelrijk.

Hiking and biking from gate Hemelrijk

From access gate Hemelrijk you can start various walking and cycling routes that lead you through the most beautiful areas in the area.

Footpaths

Essen gate cycle loop (34 km)

Address

Moerkantsebaan 50 - B-2910 Essen (route)

MTB News from the park

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  • 16 October 2025

Dig & Ride Event - Saturday 29 November

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  • 28 May 2025

Successful edition of the MTB Dig & Ride Event

  • 22 April 2025

MTB Klusdag: 17 May

  • 13 January 2025

MTB route innovations

More news
Newsletter

MONA News from the park

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  • 2 April 2026

Network meeting: Nature-inclusive entrepreneurship at Kempengoud

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  • 6 November 2025

European MONA meeting on sustainable mobility and recreation in Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide

  • 24 June 2025

Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide launches interactive digital map

  • 28 January 2025

Interview with Mattias Van den Bergh, project leader Sustainable mobility and recreation

More news
Newsletter

Walking and cycling

Karrenmuseum

The Tasberg

More about:

  • Entrance gates
  • Volksabdij - Ossendrecht (NL)
  • De Vroente - Kalmthout (B)
  • Ravenhof - Putte / Stabroek (NL/B)
 
Featured: Day of Silence
27 October 2019

On 27 October 2019, we will once again organise a 'Day of Silence'! On that day, 'time is set back'. Time also for enjoying, exploring and experiencing nature within the beautiful Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide!

Read more

#grensparkkalmthoutseheide

To see special images from the park, follow @grensparkkalmthoutseheide

๐ŸŒฟ ๐—ช๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ธ ๐—ท๐—ถ๐—ท ๐—ด๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—ฎ๐—ด ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐˜ ๐—ธ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ป ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—ท๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ด๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ป ๐—ฒ๐—ป ๐˜ƒ๐—ผ๐—ฒ๐—นโ€ฆ
๐—ž๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ป๐˜๐—ท๐—ฒ, ๐—ด๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ผ๐˜ ๐˜€๐˜‚๐—ฐ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐˜€: ๐—ข๐—ฒ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ธ๐—ฟ๐˜‚๐—ถ๐—ฑ ๐—ฑ๐˜‚๐—ถ๐—ธ๐˜ ๐—ผ๐—ฝ ๐—ถโ€ฆ
๐—š๐—ฎ ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ฒ ๐—ผ๐—ฝ ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ฏ๐—ฒ๐—น๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜„๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐—ต๐—ฒ๐˜ ๐—š๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜€๐—ฝ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ธ ๐Ÿฆ‹ Libโ€ฆ
๐Ÿšจ Fire risk in nature reserves raised to codeโ€ฆ
๐—ช๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ฑ ๐—š๐—ฎ๐˜€๐˜๐˜ƒ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ท ๐—ข๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐˜ƒ๐—ฎ๐—ป ๐—š๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜€๐—ฝ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ธ ๐—ž๐—ฎ๐—น๐—บ๐˜๐—ต๐—ผ๐˜‚๐˜๐˜€๐—ฒโ€ฆ
Enjoy our nature reserve, contribute now and then and build up your good karma in the meantime. Become a Grenspark volunteer! Together we maintain our valuable nature.

Become a Grenspark volunteer!

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ยฉ Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide | Privacy - Disclaimer

Thanks to (nature) photographers Marc Slootmaekers, Fred Severin, Dick van Dop and Rudi Delvaux for making their photos available.

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