The High Fens
The High Fens
A wild and mysterious region
All info from www.ostbelgien.eu - see page below to go to the official site
The High Fens, which were declared a nature reserve in 1957, are an upland area region in the province of Liège in the east of Belgium and adjoining parts of Germany, between the Ardennes and the Eifel highlands. The High Fens are the largest nature reserve or park in Belgium, with an area of 4.501,2 ha. It lies within the German-Belgian natural park Hohes Venn-Eifel, in the Ardennes.
Some 10,000 years ago, at the end of the last Ice Age, high moors formed on this barren ground which holds water so well. And these moors still characterise parts of the immense 5,000 ha. plateau of the nature reserve today, exuding a rare, primaeval flair. With 202 days of precipitation and 150 foggy days per year, the mood in the High Fens is predominantly mystical.
Even the summer is cooler and wetter than average, whilst the winters are long and hard, not infrequently enveloping the landscape with a Siberian chill. Frosts down to -20°C are no exception, with an annual average of 98 days of frost per year. Yet that's not all the winter has to offer! About 40 days of snow also speak a very clear language.
The first frost usually comes as early as the end of October. Statistically, the first snow falls shortly after that, in November. It's not until then that more agreeable temperatures follow. An average annual temperature of just 7.5° C - only June, July and August count as frost-free months – leaves just four months for the seasons of spring, summer and autumn.
Unique in the northern latitudes
The High Fens have a moor and heath landscape which is otherwise only found in much more northerly latitudes – or much more elevated locations. The cold climate, the high precipitation at a continuously high humidity, and the special composition of the soils have given rise to a flora and fauna which are quite untypical of our climatic region.
There are two natural phenomena that explain the presence of this special ecosystem in Belgium. The plateau of the High Fens is the first obstacle the clouds encounter on their way in off the Atlantic. This results in an above-average precipitation of over 1,400 mm of rain per year and m2. The other phenomenon is the impermeability of the rock, which prevents that precipitation from finding its way down to lower levels. These conditions are conducive to the establishment of wetlands such as moors and swamps.
Streams, rivers and dams
What happens to the water in the rainy fens? All the rainwater that falls on the noble head of Belgium, but can no longer be held by the mosses or emerges later through the peaty soil, gathers in rivulets. Small systems of streams gradually merge and form torrents. These then thunder blithely through the valleys of the region, some of which have cut their way into the rock, forming deep ravines. Rivers such as the Hill, the Schwalm, the Rur, the Warche, the Soor, the Our or Olef, the Trôs Marêts, the Holzwarche, the Warche, the Gileppe, the Getzbach, the Weser, the Eschbach, the Steinbach and dozens of small streams all have their origin in the High Fens and make their way, sometimes quietly and gracefully, but in most cases impetuously and wildly, through swampland, past rock walls and through old forests, before gushing out at the foot of the fens in dams or larger rivers. What wonderful pieces from Nature's inexhaustible jigsaw puzzle!
The High Fens are home to some genuine survival artists from the world of animals and plants. They love the heavenly tranquillity of the fens, yet they appreciate the tough living conditions and sophisticated equilibrium of a functioning ecosystem. And there's one particularly endangered species of bird among them: the black grouse. Lyrurus tetrix is a member of the grouse subfamily and has found a habitat in the High Fens. In the spring, the cocks gather for their spectacular courtship display. They attempt to win the favour of the lady of their choice with a spectacular performance, while putting their male competitors in their place with the ritualised fighting display. Sadly, things don't look good for the black grouse. The situation only needs to deteriorate just a little bit further, and the High Fens will have lost one of its treasures forever.
Home of the black grouse
Interested in learning more about this mesmerizing place?
Click the button to go to the official site of Ost-Belgien!
Spelt selection
Production
Unique water
We use spelt in our vodka. Some kind of an odd choice there, you might think.
Well, it gives the right texture to our vodka and adds a bit of that unique nutty flavour.
To be able to create our smooth vodka we need some copperwork.
A combination of a uniquely shaped pot still and our six plated column is written in the stars for this job!
A very unusual microclimate is formed in the High Fens and results in the region producing a very pristine water. It has a natural high acidity when surfacing due to the absence of minerals that contributes to the purity.
HOME OF
HOSPITALITY AND OUTDOOR LIFE
Whether you want to plan a cultural day trip by visiting local beer breweries or you are more into a wellness treatment with a fine dining moment. The region has so many options to offer everyone a pleasing time.
Every season in the High Fens is a good time for outdoor activities. Winter is all about snow fun, skeeing and winter hikes while summer has also water sports to offer.​
The outdoor nature spirit is very much alive in the region!