Exploring Europe's Hidden Gems #6 De Zoom - Kalmthoutse Heide, Belgium

In the northwest of Belgium, near the border with the Netherlands and a short distance from the city of Antwerp, lies a charming countryside area called De Zoom - Kalmthoutse Heide . I discovered this amazing park on Instagram while searching for a sunrise spot not too far from Ghent, where I was staying.

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This is a typical natural area with swamps and lakes, which looks like some kind of Finnish tundra. I was quite surprised to find something like this in Belgium. The parking lot is located exactly in the center marked here on the map.

There are several paths you can take in this nature reserve and it doesn't matter what you choose, it is very similar everywhere. We went to explore the viewpoints that are located in this park. The first one is called "De Stapper" with a view of Lake Stappersven and the second is "Brandtoren Kalmthoutse Heide".

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Due to the later sunrise in Belgium (which is so great for a person like me), we didn't even have to wake up too early to see this unique moment of the day. We left Ghent at around 7:45 am and didn't get there until around 9:00 am, but it was because of the traffic jam in Ghent, which we were 30 minus trying to get out of. If anyone is used to traffic problems from a country other than Belgium, be aware that Belgium is a different level.

The trails are well-marked, but expect sandy ground, so choose appropriate footwear. During my six months in Belgium, this was my only sunrise trip, and it was a memorable experience. We were greeted by morning fog, which I hoped would last until dawn. Unfortunately, it dissipated a bit and thus spoiled the ideal conditions for photos, I still found a few compositions, mainly thanks to the standing water and its reflection.

If you are looking for nature in the west of Belgium, this is a good option for an afternoon or morning walk. I would go here for sunset on one of the two lookout towers, which offer a unique view of the whole park. The view from Brandtoren Kalmthoutse Heide can be seen in the last photo. And if you are lucky you can see cows or sheep grazing!