Lovely walks in The Brand

That Wandelgemeente Loon op Zand has many special natural areas is no surprise by now. South of De Loonse en Drunense Duinen lies De Brand. A special piece of nature that is different in everything from the well-known Dunes.

In De Brand you won't find dry drifting sand and vast vistas. But you will find muddy forest paths, wet meadows and swampy marshes. Don't forget to put on a pair of waterproof shoes! De Brand is part of the National Park De Loonse en Drunense Duinen and lies on a lower plain between the actual dunes and the villages of Udenhout and Biezenmortel. It is great hiking here. You walk here on narrow, slippery forest paths right through the rugged vegetation. The area is also traversed by higher, long, straight lanes. These lanes are a remnant from the early Middle Ages, when people started reclaiming the peat bog. The area also owes its name to the resulting peat.

Special Flora and Fauna
Responsible nature management contributes to the recovery of this natural area. Adjustments in the supply and drainage of the Zandleij River in 2019 put an end to dehydration. Because "seepage" (groundwater) is no longer being captured, it can rise to the surface again and humidify the area. This unique habitat provides the perfect habitat for special animals. In De Brand you can find many species of amphibians, for example the tree frog, the small green frog and the rare crested newt. The rare medicinal leech also lives in the marshes. In the autumn mushrooms appear everywhere, there are over 450 species, some of which are very rare. Thus, you can also just see squid mushrooms along the forest edges! Special marsh plants such as water trefoil, marsh fern and marsh fiddle grow rampantly in De Brand.