Battle for nature conservation

Nowadays, it seems obvious that valuable nature is protected, but it was once very different. Read here how awareness of the importance of nature grew and what actions ensued.

At the beginning of the 20th century, nature lovers, city tourists and painters saw their beloved heath slowly deteriorate. The highest dunes disappeared due to sand excavation, sheep herds declined due to changes in agriculture, and vast heathlands were turned into pastures or forest. In addition, allotment plans threatened important parts of the area. Intervention was needed to preserve the unique landscape.

Royal Society for Nature and Urban Beauty

In Antwerp, the Royal Society for Nature and Urban Beauty was founded in 1910. One of its objectives was to preserve the Kalmthoutse Heide. Without the commitment and perseverance of this association, there would probably be no more heath today. Although the Kalmthoutse Heide was already protected as a landscape in 1941, it took until 1964 before the area officially became a 'state reserve'. A petition of more than a hundred thousand signatures was the deciding factor for this. Now good heathland management finally became possible! Ever since its foundation, the Royal Society for Nature and Urban Beauty advocated the establishment of a cross-border nature reserve. In 1930, they concluded an agreement with the Dutch Society for the Preservation of Nature (Nederlandse Vereniging tot Behoud van Natuurmonumenten) to join forces to create it.

Symbolic millstone

In the centre of the area, on the German Road, lies a millstone. Many walk past it carelessly, but this stone symbolises the years of struggle to preserve the heathland. In 1970, the millstone was placed with a quote from Cicero on it: 'With nature as your guide, impossible to get lost'. With this, the stone reminds us of the importance of respect and care for the landscape that has been cherished for generations.

Birth of the Grenspark

In 2001, the Grenspark Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide saw the light of day, then some 4,000 ha in size. In 2011, it was expanded to 6,000 ha. The unique cooperation - across national borders - is due to a growing awareness and fight for the importance of nature. Unlike Flanders, the Dutch part of the Grenspark never experienced such a struggle for nature conservation: the nature area there was largely in the hands of private large landowners. The estates never knew the dangers that threatened the Kalmthoutse Heide, so fragmentation and conversion to farmland was less of an issue here.

NATURA 2000

The value of the Grenspark as a whole is now widely recognised. Among others, in the network of European nature reserves: NATURA 2000. This provides important legal protection for the natural habitats of plant and animal species that are endangered, rare or vulnerable. Thank goodness for that!