Enjoy the snow - alternatives to the High Fens
When it snows, many people are drawn to the High Fens. However, there are only limited parking spaces available. Find out here how to find out whether there are still spaces available in the High Fens and where else you can experience snow in East Belgium.
Monitoring visitor flows in the High Fens via newsletter
In response to the exceptional flow of visitors to the High Fens in recent years, a coalition consisting of the Federal Police, the SPW, the Provincial Governor and the EBTA has taken measures to improve visitor management in the High Fens. This includes communication via the ostbelgien.eu website.
To this end, a traffic light system has been set up for the affected routes and locations in the Fens, which indicates the number of visitors to the High Fens in order to prevent excessive tourist demand. The police keep an eye on the situation in the Fens and can react accordingly if the number of visitors increases and adjust the traffic lights on the website.
Colour code:
- Green: Normal visitor numbers
- Orange: Large numbers of visitors, please monitor the situation in the fens (cf. ostbelgien.eu). This option is also used preventively if a high number of visitors is expected.
- Red: Please do not enter the High Fens, use the recommended alternative routes.
- Dark red: the High Fens is closed and traffic is being regulated. This option only applies in an extreme emergency.
Furthermore, please make sure you subscribe to the 'affluence' newsletter: ostbelgien.eu/en/newsletter-affluence. This newsletter informs subscribers about all changes in the Venn.
The Forestry Commission asks all hikers to adhere to the following regulations in the High Fens area:
- It is strictly forbidden to leave the paths, boardwalks and hiking trails;
- It is essential to observe these three prohibition signs, which are marked by pictograms on site:
- Passage forbidden
- Bicycles prohibited
- Dogs prohibited, even on a leash
- Camping, bivouac camps and lighting campfires is not permitted in the High Fens.
It is also strongly recommended to start early and to finish the walk before nightfall.
More information about hiking in the High Fens:
https://www.ostbelgien.eu/en/news/article/2020/02/visitor-management-high-fens
Discover new areas
Despite the improved visitor management, parking spaces in the High Fens are limited and visitors are asked to switch to less frequented localities. The East Belgium Tourist Agency recommends instead to use the possibilities offered by the junction node network and the walking route planner.
All the information you need to ensure perfect planning can be found on ostbelgien.eu:
Hiking route planner:
https://www.ostbelgien.eu/en/walking/hiking-route-planer
Pleasure tours in East Belgium:
https://www.ostbelgien.eu/en/walking/pleasure-tours
Hiking tours with children:
https://www.ostbelgien.eu/en/walking/walking-with-kids
Info on the junction node system:
https://www.ostbelgien.eu/en/walking/hiking-in-the-honeycomb-network
Info about the travel safety:
https://www.ostbelgien.eu/en/safety-during-your-holiday
Tips for snowhikes:
Instead of taking the High Fens route, winterhikes can be planned in the following villages, for example:
Burg Reuland:
Pleasure tour 9 - 12.5 km
www.ostbelgien.eu/en/fiche/hiking/genusstour-willkommen-da-oben
Bütgenbach:
Pleasure tour 07 - 10.2 km
www.ostbelgien.eu/en/fiche/hiking/genusstour-still-ruht-der-see
Robertville:
Pleasure tour 17 - 8 km
www.ostbelgien.eu/en/fiche/hiking/genusstour-robertville
Weywertz:
Pleasure tour 11 - 12 km
www.ostbelgien.eu/en/fiche/hiking/genusstour-koenigreich-der-raubvoegel
Manderfeld:
Pleasure tour 15 - 15.1 km
www.ostbelgien.eu/en/fiche/hiking/genusstour-entlegenes-land
Rodt:
Pleasure tour 25 - 12.6 km
www.ostbelgien.eu/en/fiche/hiking/genusstour-unendlich-scheint-der-wald
Raeren:
Pleasure tour 19 - 8 km
www.ostbelgien.eu/en/fiche/hiking/pleasure-tour-19
Contact us
For further tourist information, please contact the House for Tourism High Fens - East Belgium via info@ostbelgien.eu or +32 80 33 02 50.