NATURE RESERVE BOURGOYEN-OSSEMEERSEN

The ideal base for an active outing just outside the city of Ghent. It is a quiet nature reserve including beautiful and extensive areas of wet grasslands. This is a very popular nature reserve for bird lovers, as every year 10 000 birds migrate to this East Flanders landscape to breed. Interestingly, there are many different species of ducks and geese in the park such as widgeons, teals, shovelers, Canada geese & barnacle geese.

The park covers an area of over 220 hectares. It is a very unique park with many marshy areas. Here you can admire the unspoilt nature very well both on foot and by bike. In fact, there are many hiking trails in the park but Meerskantpad is one of the most beautiful hiking trails and is also accessible for nature lovers in wheelchairs or with visual impairment.

The ideal starting point for your walk is the Jan Hublé nature centre. At the nature centre you can borrow a map and binoculars to spot the birds. There are also free walks with one of the nature centre's experts. You can also have a drink at this nature centre before, during or after your walk. The park is also perfect for children who want to play or watch the animals. The nature centre offers a free educational backpack for children from 5 onwards with the main theme of Books.

There are three walking routes:

• Blue route = Bourgoyen trail (5.5 km - 2h30)

• Red route = Meerskantpad (4.4 km - 2 hours)

  --> This route is accessible for wheelchairs and the blind.

• Yellow route = Spoorwegdijkpad (2 km - 1 hour)

Below by the links you will find the bike rental in the hotel and various cycling routes. In addition, in the last link you will find hiking routes and maps of the nature park.