Walking in De Meinweg:
a beautiful morning in the mist
The sun was shining brightly as we drove towards De Meinweg. Today, we were going to walk the route Golden Elephants on Your Path. When we took the turn towards Vlodrop, the sky suddenly clouded over. Goodbye sun. All at once, we were driving through low-hanging mist and a quiet, moody atmosphere appeared. I do like this kind of weather, because it often makes photos more atmospheric and mysterious. The most beautiful moment is when the sun breaks through and beams of light appear between the trees.
About National Park De Meinweg
National Park De Meinweg lies east of Roermond, right on the border with Germany, and is part of the Maas-Swalm-Nette border park. What makes this area so nice to explore is the variety. You do not only walk through forest here, but also along heathland, fens and stream valleys. Every few kilometres, the landscape feels different again. That means a walk here never really gets boring.
The area is rich in plants and animals. With a bit of luck, you may see traces of wild boar in the mud, a fox may slip away between the bushes or you may hear birds all around you. The fact that more than a hundred different bird species have been spotted here becomes clear as soon as you stand still for a moment. Extra special: De Meinweg is the only area in Limburg where the adder can be found. Thanks to the many walking and cycling routes, you can explore the park at your own pace and discover a different part each time.
Tall trees and winter ferns
The first part of the walk is actually my favourite section right away. When you enter the area, you come onto a path with very tall trees. I always find this part especially photogenic, and with this misty weather it creates beautiful images. It is February, so the ferns are still dry and brown. Funny enough, they had exactly the same colour as the coat of my good friend, who was walking with me.
Along the boardwalk
After the ferns and the tall trees, you arrive at the boardwalk, which leads you through the trees over a marshy area. In this section, you can clearly see that wildlife regularly passes through. In the mud, the animals have created their own routes, and you can clearly see where wild boar have turned over the soil.
A short step abroad: Dalheimer Mühle
After the boardwalk, you arrive at Dalheimer Mühle. This part immediately feels foreign, and it is. As soon as you step off the boardwalk, you are on German soil. Near this watermill, there is a small lake where you can often spot different kinds of birds. On this misty day, the white heron at the edge of the lake stood out beautifully against the dark sky. A few ducks were dozing on a tree trunk in the water.
After that, the route takes you back through the marshy area to a section with very tall, white trees. The light colour of these trunks creates a strong contrast with the dark trees around them. That contrast makes this part extra special to walk through.
The area around the Meru
The last part of the route takes you through the area around the Meru. The Meru in Vlodrop feels like a small world of its own within De Meinweg. Between the greenery lies the campus of the Maharishi European Research University, MERU, which has been located in the middle of the nature area since 1990. People from many different countries live and work here, focusing on themes such as conscious living, health and education. Everything about this place feels just a little different from the forest around it.
Around the buildings, there is a freely accessible forest park that you simply walk through during your route. Old trees, ponds and winding paths give this part of the walk a calm, almost still atmosphere. In spring, rhododendrons bloom here, but even on a grey or misty day this is the kind of place where you naturally slow down and keep looking around.
Mist, height differences and Maas terraces
This misty weather gives you a special chance to see the layers of the area. Through the haze, you can suddenly see much more clearly the different heights at which the trees stand. You become very aware that you are in the landscape of the Limburg Maas terraces.
Peace, sun and a nice finish
Back at the car park, the sky clears and the sun suddenly starts to shine. On this quiet Tuesday morning, De Meinweg was very peaceful and, apart from a few walkers, we hardly met anyone. We end our walk with lunch at De Boshut.
