Diest (24brussels) – The “Op de Schomme” recreation area in Molenstede, near Diest, has officially opened in 2025. Managed by Natuurpunt, the area links to the Dassenaarde reserve, featuring restored trails, playgrounds, and wildlife habitats on what were formerly pig farms, at a total cost of €995,000.
According to VRT News, the new recreational space transforms former agricultural land into a natural habitat accessible to both people and wildlife. This project exemplifies the successful revitalization of rural spaces.
Johan Toebat from the Agency for Nature and Forests, involved in the area’s design, remarked,
“a textbook example of how agricultural land can be returned to nature and water.”
The site underwent significant changes, with old pig barns demolished and the landscape fully depaved.
What’s New at Op de Schomme near Diest with Natuurpunt Trails?
Natuurpunt will manage the area, which directly connects to the Dassenaarde nature reserve, historically significant for the badgers that inhabited it until the 1950s. This reserve spans Molenstede, Schaffen, and Engsbergen in Limburg, contributing to a larger green corridor.
“At the Schomme, we bring nature and people closer together. This is a place where children can play and walkers can enjoy themselves. With new walking paths, play areas, and a reception area, we make nature accessible,”
Said Jo Brouns (CD&V), Flemish Minister of Agriculture and Environment.
Visitors to the “Op de Schomme” area can park at a central reception point before exploring the natural surroundings. The reception provides comprehensive information about the area’s features and wildlife. Several newly established hiking trails connect the site to the broader Merode hiking network.
The area additionally caters to children with various facilities, including a playground featuring a climbing course and a jungle swing. Wooden sculptures of black woodpeckers and whiskered bats are distributed throughout the park, serving as reminders of the local fauna.
Restored grasslands, woodlands, and wetlands now serve as habitats for diverse species, including heathland animals and birds like the tree pipit and honey buzzard.
“By removing paved surfaces and creating new natural areas, we protect the surrounding area and village centres from drought and flooding,”
Concludes Els Remans from the Flemish Land Agency.
The “Op de Schomme” project commenced in 2020, aiming to convert a former pig farm into a recreational space, with demolition of the old barns completed in August 2023. The landscape was revived with grasslands, woodlands, and wetlands, ultimately forming a larger green corridor benefiting both wildlife and visitors. The name “Op de Schomme” has roots dating back to 1764, referring to the original land quality.
