New signs welcome visitors at Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide
Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide placed new information boards at the reception gates and the various car parks in the area. They offer visitors an informative and attractive welcome. Anyone visiting the area will receive information about 24 walking routes and special attractions in the Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide via the new signs.
People in the picture (vlnr): Liesbeth Bardyn (alderman Stabroek), Brigitte Van Aert (alderman Essen), Lukas Jacobs (mayor Kalmthout), Rik Frans (mayor Stabroek), Martin Groffen (chairman Grenspark) Veerle Nonneman (alderman Stabroek)
On 17 December, Rik Frans, mayor of Stabroek and Martin Groffen, chairman of Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide together with aldermen and mayor, unveiled the information boards at Ravenhof Castle. Ravenhof Castle is one of the four reception gates of the Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide. It is a unique place, symbolically located on the Flemish-Dutch border, where a stately forest reveals a rich history.
Chairman Martin Groffen: 'The new signs offer a wonderful calling card for a fantastic, varied area. Visitors will find practical information about where they can walk, but also about a number of characteristic elements in the area: things that are not always immediately visible, but which make the area what it is. The map also invites you to discover stretches of natural beauty where you may never have been before.'
Mayor Rik Frans: 'Ravenhof Castle and its surroundings form a unique part of Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide. The ancient woods and heritage offer a fantastic environment for cyclists and walkers. The new Grenspark signs nicely illustrate the value of the area. As a partner in the Grenspark, I am delighted to present these signs to the public'.
The signs are a visible illustration of the cooperation built up over many years around the Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide. All the partners of the Grenspark (municipalities, nature organisations, ...) support this recognisable image for the entire 6,000-hectare nature reserve. In this way, the Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide fulfils its ambition to realise one nature area across the national border with all stakeholders. This is beneficial for both nature and recreation.
A welcome board and an informative triptych will be placed at four starting points: Kasteel Ravenhof in Stabroek, De Vroente in Kalmthout, Hemelrijk in Essen and De Volksabdij in Ossendrecht. There are also 13 smaller starting points where visitors can start their walk. These starting points receive a diptych with information about the subarea and an updated walking map. The visitor map also clearly marks the 26 Grenspark hosts, so visitors know where to find them for a snack or drink after a nice walk.