Lommel: Sand Landscapes, Glass Art and Special Nature Trails

Lommel surprises visitors with an unusual combination of sandy landscapes, coniferous forests, clear blue lakes and cultural discoveries. Covering 200 hectares, the Lommelse Sahara provides a striking natural setting for a stay that allows you to combine outdoor activities, landscapes and visits to the town. Depending on the focus of your trip, you can choose a holiday apartment in Lommel as a base for hiking, cycling tours or cultural experiences.

Sand, Lakes and Trails in the Lommelse Sahara

The Lommelse Sahara lies amid coniferous forests, with its extensive sandy landscape and clear blue lakes. Several signposted hiking trails lead through the nature area. From House of Nature, trails run across the sandy areas, along bodies of water and through quiet pine forests. House of Nature itself is a monumental steel sculpture measuring 7.5 metres high and 50 metres wide. The 30-metre-high “De Reus van Bosland” observation tower offers views of the surroundings of Lommel.

The Sahara can also be experienced by bicycle: it is possible to cycle along the mini-desert. This creates different options for planning your days, without all excursions having to follow the same rhythm. Families with different interests can, for example, combine an active day in the sandy landscape with a more leisurely cultural discovery.

Natural Diversity and Hiking with Public Transport

The natural attractions outside the Sahara also display remarkable diversity. De Grote Watering is home to more than 350 different plant species and 120 bird species. Blekerheide can be reached via an elegant steel footbridge over the Bocholt-Herentals Canal. Those who want to combine hiking and public transport will find two Groene-Halte hikes in Lommel. The “Lommelse Natuurparels” hike begins at the railway station and ends at the church of Lommel. This clear starting and ending point can provide useful guidance when choosing your accommodation if you do not want to plan your excursions exclusively by car.

Glass Art, Monuments and Special Local History

In the heart of the town centre is the GlazenHuis, known as the Flemish Centre for Contemporary Glass Art. In 2020, its collection comprised more than 800 works of art. Due to renovation work, the GlazenHuis is closed until autumn 2027. Take this restriction into account when planning your trip and choose other cultural highlights for your current stay. The German War Cemetery in Lommel is a 16-hectare cemetery from the Second World War and is also a protected monument. It particularly appeals to visitors interested in history and remembrance culture.

Other historical points of interest include the Leyssensmolen, which has been a protected monument since 2001. You will also encounter the irrigation system known as “witteren”, which has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lommel therefore offers a range extending from contemporary glass art and technical and landscape features to places of remembrance.

Which Accommodation Suits Your Travel Plans?

When looking for a holiday home or holiday apartment in Lommel, it is worth first deciding on the type of trip you want. For days spent in nature, the sandy areas, lakes, pine forests, marked hiking trails and cycling tours take centre stage. Those interested in culture can focus on the town centre, monuments and the history of the area. The Groene-Halte hikes add another option by combining hiking and public transport. Lommel is therefore suitable for planning a trip in which active days, landscape experiences and cultural discoveries can be given different levels of emphasis.

If you would like to compare other destinations for your search, you can also find Ophoven, Heers, Bocholt, Genk, Houthalen-Helchteren, Hasselt, Bree and Ellikom.

For the overarching travel overview: Limburg.