Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide introduces MTB vignette from 1 October
Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide created a high-quality route structure for mountain bikers in 2020. It includes four single tracks and a connecting loop, good for 70 kilometres of MTB fun. To cover the maintenance costs of these routes, the Grenspark is introducing a vignette.
Contribution to maintenance costs
All proceeds from the vignette go towards maintaining the routes. Terrain owners and MTB volunteers decide together how they will spend the funds. A vignette will cost 12 euros per calendar year. This is a digital vignette by name, which can be purchased via the Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide website and displayed on a mobile phone. It was earlier communicated that the vignette would be introduced on 1 July. However, the introduction will be postponed to the start of the MTB season. The possibility of a daily vignette is still being further investigated.
A vignette will be compulsory from 1 October for all users of the single tracks aged 18 and over. Youngsters can therefore continue to use the trails for free.
Martin Groffen (chairman Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide): "Our routes are clearly becoming very popular. We can see this clearly on Strava, where the routes are already among the most used in the Netherlands. Of course, frequent use also entails maintenance costs. As in other areas, we therefore ask for a contribution from users."
Single tracks on the flow of nature
The MTB network consists of four routes: Stoppelbergen, Wildernissen, Staartse Heide and Volksabdij. The latter route is currently under construction. All routes are designed through singletracks in such a way that many mountain bikers can enjoy and challenge them: those just discovering the sport to the experienced mountain biker. The routes are located in forest areas where the ecological impact of mountain biking remains low and where users cross each other as little as possible. To reach the four routes from various places, a forty-kilometre yellow connecting loop has been created in cooperation with 'Sport Vlaanderen'. That route crosses both Belgian and Dutch territory and is the ideal ride along the beautiful nature of Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide. The yellow loop can be cycled at any time without a vignette.
