Weerterbos

Car park P1

Hoogbosweg

6031 LE

Nederweert

Route

An open landscape in Weerterbos with wet grasslands, pools of water and shrubs, with morning mist hanging between the trees.

A red deer stag with large antlers stands in tall grass on an open plain in Weerterbos, with trees and shrubs in the background.

A round wooden observation tower in Weerterbos, with a wide wooden walkway and two visitors looking out over the nature reserve from the tower.

Two walkers follow a narrow sandy path through the heathland in Weerterbos, with a large pine tree and extensive grasslands in the background.

Visitors use binoculars to look out over the open grasslands of Weerterbos from a wooden viewing platform during a red deer rutting excursion.

Weerterbos is a nature reserve covering almost 800 hectares in the municipality of Nederweert, with forests, woodland pools, wet grasslands and small areas of heathland. Here, you can walk through a varied landscape that is also home to red deer. Weerterbos is part of the cross-border KempenBroek UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

From wet woodlands to open heathlands

The landscape in Weerterbos is constantly changing. Dense, wet woodlands give way to open grasslands, woodland pools and small areas of heathland. In other places, you'll walk through drier forests. This variety makes the area an interesting place to explore on foot.

Four walking routes take you through different parts of Weerterbos. Along the way, you'll discover how water, woodland and open landscapes alternate. The yellow route also takes you through part of the neighbouring Hugterheide landscape in the Dutch province of North Brabant.

Spot red deer from the observation tower

One of the best-known inhabitants of Weerterbos is the red deer. These large animals live in the forest and sometimes appear on the open grasslands. The observation tower offers a good view across the area. With a little luck, you might spot a group of red deer grazing.

Three of the four walking routes pass the observation tower. The males are especially noticeable during the rutting season in autumn. Their deep, powerful calls echo through the forest. Even outside this period, it's worth taking a moment to look around from the tower.

Part of the KempenBroek UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

Weerterbos lies in the northern part of KempenBroek, a cross-border area in the Netherlands and Belgium. Since 2024, KempenBroek has been recognised as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Here, residents, farmers and nature organisations work together towards a future where people and nature remain connected.

Weerterbos is also part of Natura 2000, a European network of protected natural areas. This provides additional protection for the area's special natural environment.

Ready to explore? Choose one of the walking routes and take some time along the way to enjoy the views from the observation tower. With a little luck, you might even spot the red deer.