It is no coincidence that Diepenbeek is a favourite base for walkers and cyclists. The municipality lies right in the middle of De Wijers — “the land of 1001 ponds” — at the crossroads of the Kempen and Haspengouw. The number of nodes and signposted routes within cycling distance of Het Demerhuys is genuinely impressive. Below we have listed what we most often recommend to guests ourselves.
Cycling: the node network from the door
Cycle node 100, at the Demerstrand sports complex, is the starting point for several themed loops through De Wijers, the Kempen and Haspengouw — and you can park there free of charge for long stretches. Distances vary, but every loop can be shortened as you like. At the Demerstrand bike shed there is also a free bike service point with tools and a pump for small repairs, plus a charging point for electric bikes. If you prefer to plot your own route, buy the “Fietsen in Limburg” map (€9.50) at the Vrijetijdsloket on the Servaasplein.
Walking: 22 new nodes in De Wijers
Since 15 January 2025 the region has gained a full walking node network. It spans 7 municipalities — Genk, Hasselt, Diepenbeek, Lummen, Heusden-Zolder, Houthalen-Helchteren and Zonhoven — and Diepenbeek accounts for 22 nodes. You plot your own walk, online via wandeleninlimburg.be or with the paper regional map (€8, Vrijetijdsloket).
Our favourite nature reserves
Besides the node network, Diepenbeek also has a series of signposted walks through its own nature reserves:
- Dauteweyers – Dorpsbemden — 11 ha of eighteenth-century ponds (originally created by iron ore extraction) beside 70 ha of hay meadows and purple moor-grass meadows. Tree frogs, great crested newts and kingfishers are at home here. Six routes, three starting points: Demerstrand (1.5 to 16.5 km), Dauteweyers on Sint-Servatiusstraat (3.9 to 16.5 km) and de Visserij at the care campus (3.9 or 16.5 km).
- De Maten — adjoins the 300 ha nature reserve in Genk: dune ridges, ponds and heathland. Four routes from the Diepenbekerbos, from 2.2 to 10.3 km.
- Nietelbroeken — a former hunting ground beside the Mombeek valley, with a 4.7 km walk from Netelbroekstraat. The area is fairly marshy, so sturdy footwear is recommended.
“De Wijers” is sometimes called “the land of 1001 ponds” around here — and anyone who spends an afternoon walking through Dauteweyers and Dorpsbemden believes that figure straight away.
Themed walk “Verbindend water” — starting at node 100
If you would rather not put a route together yourself: the themed walk “Verbindend water” also starts and ends at node 100 by the Demerstrand, less than two kilometres from Het Demerhuys. The route runs through the De Dijken and Dauteweyers nature reserves and through Patersbos park, and ends — very fittingly — on the terrace of the Knooppunt 100 cycling café.
Practical
At Het Demerhuys there is a covered bike shed with room for six bikes, a pump, a repair kit and a charging point for e-bikes. Node 100 is about 1.5 km away. Walking and cycling maps are on sale at the Vrijetijdsloket, Servaasplein 13 (011 491 900) — feel free to ask at the tourism desk, or ask us about our own favourite loops when you arrive.