Hotel Mollenhof

Nature Reserve "De Maten" - Mol

by Wafro

The whole reserve(almost 200ha) is built out of 5 smaller protected areas.
1. Nature Walking Park: "Den Diel" 23ha
2. Central Reserve area 65ha
3. Water areas 16ha
4. Small "Verkallen " 30ha
5. Bush terrain 18 ha
Around the Reserve you'll find a large buffer zone of fields and forests.

Small rivers running through wide plains

by Pavlik_NL

The "Kempen" is an area that can be described as a wide plain with sandy soil (poor). Many forests are around and small rivers cross the plain from East to West to eventually join the Schelde near Antwerpen. One of the rivers goes straight through Mol, this is the Nete. Just behind the church one can walk to the right into a small park and there it is, spreading it's peaceful sound along the green fields and high trees.

Belgium, country ripped apart by wars

by Pavlik_NL

Belgium suffered of all European countries the most of the worldwars that drove through our continent. The first worldwar was horrible as Belgium was occupied, cut of from The Netherlands (neutral zone) and partly in the frontline. The second worldwar another occupation followed and the ones that suffered most were the average citizens of the country. Therefor in almost all Belgian towns and villages, you will find a war memorial. The one in Mol is behind the church and very touching, as can be seen in the picture.

Mol, one would almost think you go underground

by Pavlik_NL

"Mol, a Belgian place that holds a holy relic"

The small town of Mol is situated in the farmost corner of the province Antwerpen and from the city Antwerpen itself. Regional it is one of the central towns and it is attractive for the surrounding villages to shop in. By the way, "Mol" actually means "Mole" in Dutch, so ... if you see little black animals with shuffles ... you're in the right town.

"The "Molse Meren" (Lakes of Mol)"

On the planes of the "Kempen" (name of the surrounding area) white sand deposits have been left in ancient times around the place where Mol is now. Due through winning of these sands lakes have appeared and the now form the backbone of a very touristic hotspot near Mol: beach tourism and (limited) watersports.

"Mol, already an ancient town"

In the 9th century Mol was first mentioned as being a part of the given properties of Adelhard, a full cousin of Charlesmagne. With entering the abbey of Corbie, he granted all his possessions to this abbey, among which the village Mol. Only a few decades later the village was destroyed by Vikings. Difficult times would also be ahead as a powerbattle started between the Brabant nobility and the religious leaders of nearby abbeys. After that the 16th century brought the plundering soldiers of Gelre as well as the terrors of the plague. Only after those dreadful centuries, slowly Mol strated to blossom as the centre of the South-Western "Kempen" area.