Can you walk in the Brachter Wald?
Yes. The area is closed to motor traffic and walking, cycling and Nordic walking routes have been laid out. Follow the signs on site.
Cross-border guide
Walking in the border forest near Beesel
Beesel lies right on the German border. Behind Reuver begins the Brachter Wald, a former British ammunition depot that is now a nature reserve. Together with the German and Dutch nature around it, it belongs to the Maas-Swalm-Nette cross-border park, with waymarked premium trails that cross the border.
| Brachter Wald | Nature reserve in Brüggen (Germany), a British ammunition depot until 1996, now owned by the NRW-Stiftung; no motor traffic |
|---|---|
| Entrance from Reuver | Green border crossing De Witte Stein (Keulseweg, Reuver), not for cars; about 4.5 km from the campsite as the crow flies |
| Premium trails | Galgenvenn 10.5 km (through the border forest), Schwalmbruch 15.5 km (along the Swalm), Meinvennen 18.9 km (De Meinweg) |
| Schwalm-Nette nature park | Since 1965, 435 km²; information point at Burg Brüggen, about 9 km as the crow flies |
| De Meinweg | National park near Herkenbosch, about 1,800 ha, surrounded by Germany on three sides; about 12 km as the crow flies |
What is the Brachter Wald?
From 1948 the British forces set up the Brüggen-Bracht ammunition depot in the border forest near Brüggen. The depot was used until 1996; it then became the Brachter Wald nature reserve, now owned by the NRW-Stiftung. About two thirds is forest and one third heath and dry sandy grassland. You can still see traces of the depot, such as old railway tracks, bunkers and fire-fighting ponds. Source: KuLaDig (LVR, in German).
Into the forest from Reuver
According to VVV Hart van Limburg, De Witte Stein near Reuver is one of the entrances to the Brachter Wald: a green border crossing that cars cannot use and a good starting point for walks and bike rides through Meerlebroek and the Brachter Wald. Walking, cycling and Nordic walking routes have been laid out. De Witte Stein is about 4.5 km from the campsite as the crow flies, about 7 km by road. Route maps of the Brachter Wald are available from VVV Beesel/Reuver.
Premium trails across the border
The cross-border park has waymarked premium walking trails under the name Wasser.Wander.Welt. Galgenvenn (10.5 km) crosses the border on mostly natural paths through the border forest, with parking at Heidhausen 83 in Brüggen, about 7 km from the campsite as the crow flies; De Witte Stein in Reuver is listed as a café along this trail. Schwalmbruch (15.5 km) follows the Swalm across the border; by public transport you take the train to Swalmen and walk 2 km to the trail. In Reuver itself there is the Huilbeek and Maas premium trail (12.7 km). The trail pages are in German.
The cross-border park and Schwalm-Nette nature park
The German-Dutch Maas-Swalm-Nette cross-border park lies between Susteren, Leudal, Venlo and Mönchengladbach. It consists of the German Schwalm-Nette nature park and the Dutch municipalities of Beesel, Leudal, Echt-Susteren, Maasgouw, Roerdalen, Roermond and Venlo. The Schwalm-Nette nature park was founded in 1965 and covers 435 km². The nearest information point is the nature park information centre at Burg Brüggen, about 9 km as the crow flies and about 15 km by road.
De Meinweg National Park
De Meinweg National Park lies east of Roermond, covers about 1,800 hectares and is surrounded by Germany on three sides. It has a terraced landscape unique in the Netherlands and a large network of walking junctions, and it is the only area in Limburg where the adder still occurs. The address is Meinweg 2 in Herkenbosch, about 12 km as the crow flies and about 19 km by road. The Meinvennen premium trail is 18.9 km and Staatsbosbeheer has a 36 km cycling route (can be shortened to 23 km) from Meinweg 2.
Sources and more information
The facts on this page come from these official sources (opens in a new window):
- Brachter Wald and De Witte Stein (VVV Hart van Limburg)
- Brachter Wald nature reserve, history (in German) (LVR KuLaDig)
- Premium trails of the cross-border park (in German) (Wasser.Wander.Welt)
- Maas-Swalm-Nette cross-border park (in Dutch) (Grenspark Maas-Swalm-Nette)
- Schwalm-Nette nature park (in German) (Naturpark Schwalm-Nette)
- De Meinweg National Park (VVV Hart van Limburg)
Questions and answers
What is the nearest entrance from the campsite?
The green border crossing De Witte Stein on the Keulseweg in Reuver, about 4.5 km as the crow flies and about 7 km by road. You cannot cross the border there by car.
Which border trail suits an afternoon?
The Galgenvenn premium trail is 10.5 km and runs through the border forest. You park at Heidhausen 83 in Brüggen, about 7 km from the campsite as the crow flies.
How far is De Meinweg?
Meinweg 2 in Herkenbosch is about 12 km from the campsite as the crow flies and about 19 km by road.