Discover Benelux | Culture | Exotic Benelux
The bison’s territory Veluwe, the Netherlands To share land with the bison, most people head to the Far West. With a Stetson on your head and spurs adorning your shoes, you can conquer the prairie on horseback, searching for the mighty animals. It is, however, much easier to just go the beautiful Veluwe reserve in the Netherlands. By combining woods, white sand and soft-purple heath, both humans and animals enjoy strolling through the diverse landscape. Sheep, boars, red dears…they all consider this natural wonder their home. Yet, the most spectacular inhabitant of the region is the wisent; or the European bison. The animal was close to extinction for decades, but is now restoring its population in the Dutch woods. Unfortunately, it might take you some effort to spot one though, since their territory is shielded from the hiking trails to protect the animals.
Wisent. Photo: Leo Linnartz, ARK Natuurontwikkeling
Veluwe. Photo: NBTC
The sacred temples Villers Abbey, Villers-la-Ville, Belgium Although the Aztec settlements in Mexico and the Inca temples in Peru are a world away from Wallonia, their resemblance to the region’s Catholic heritage is uncanny. Just a stone’s throw from the Belgian capital, you can visit the Villers Abbey. The humongous monastery was finished halfway during the 13th century, making it older than Machu Pichu. Throughout the ages, turbulences like the great iconoclasm, disputes between the church and the Habsburgians and, finally, the French revolution deteriorated the abbey to the mystical ruin it is today. Walk through the chambers of the former palace of spirituality and knowledge and relive its long, dark history.
Villers Abbey. Photo: Tina Sauwens
76 | Issue 66 | June 2019
Villers Abbey. Photo: Tina Sauwens
Villers Abbey. Photo: Tina Sauwens
Villers Abbey. Photo: Tina Sauwens