Ellikom – Abeek Valley Nature Area and Historic Mills

Ellikom combines a nature area and cultural history within a small geographical setting: the Abeek Valley covers more than 180 hectares, while former mills, the protected ensemble and religious art offer a special insight into the history of the village. If you are looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home for your vacation, you can plan your accommodation around your preferred mix of landscape experiences, historical discoveries and activities suitable for different age groups.

Nature in the Abeek Valley

The Abeek Valley nature area covers more than 180 hectares. A nature expedition through the Abeek Valley leads through peatlands, old alder carrs and reed beds. This creates a nature experience in which not just a single viewpoint, but a variety of landscapes take center stage. When planning your day, you can choose between an excursion close to nature and cultural stops in Ellikom.

Another activity is “Wandel op water – Ellikom”. It is aimed at adventurers and explorers aged 8 and over. This offering may therefore be particularly interesting when your travel group includes different age groups and you are planning a more active outing in addition to observing nature. You should take the stated age requirement into account when planning.

Hoogmolen and the history of the mills

One of the defining historic sites is the Hoogmolen complex, also known as Peerdermolen. The Hoogmolen is a former water-powered grain mill on the Abeek and was first mentioned in 1500. Its current appearance was largely created in the 19th century, while the U-shaped complex contains an older core dating from the 16th century. This combination of different historical periods makes the site interesting for visitors who want to learn about not only nature, but also regional architectural and usage history during their stay.

The Hoogmolen complex and its surroundings are designated as a protected town or village ensemble. In addition, the mill complex without the residential building and the mill building are designated as protected monuments. For a culture-oriented stay, it is therefore worthwhile to consciously explore the individual components of the ensemble rather than classifying the site merely as a general attraction.

The Neermolen is also part of Ellikom’s mill history. It is probably the oldest mill in Ellikom. This cautious wording is part of its traditional classification and should be retained when planning your trip.

Religious art and a picnic area

The parish church of Sint-Harlindis en Relindis houses a polychrome wooden Calvary group by the Master of Elsloo, dating from 1520 to 1530. The parish of Sint-Harlindis and Relindis is also considered to be a very old foundation of Aldeneik Abbey, probably dating from the 9th century. Those interested in religious art and early local history will find another distinct focus for their trip planning here.

There are no remains visible on site at the location of the former Slagmolen of Ellikom. Nevertheless, picnicking is possible there. The site is signposted from the concrete path and the Weverstraat. This means the spot can be included as a simple break during an excursion without equating the former mill site with a preserved building.

Planning the right accommodation

When looking for accommodation in Ellikom, it helps to establish a clear priority: do you mainly want to experience peatlands, alder carrs and reed beds, discover historic mills, or combine culture and nature? The Abeek Valley provides the thematic focus for nature-oriented days; travelers interested in culture can include Hoogmolen, Neermolen and the parish church in their plans. If children aged 8 and over are traveling with you, “Wandel op water – Ellikom” is another possible age-appropriate activity. This allows you to choose a holiday apartment not based on a blanket promise, but according to the experiences you want to shape your stay.

For more local pages to help plan your trip: Neerpelt, Bree, Bilzen, Beringen, Dilsen, As, Hamont-Achel, Lanaken.

For the overarching travel overview: Limburg.