Deurnese- en Mariapeel

The Peel
Of the more than 30,000 hectares the Peel originally covered, only 4,500 hectares of peat were preserved. More than 1,300 hectares have been transformed into ’De Groote Peel’ National Park. The park can be reached from Ospeldijk (Limburg).    The Deurne Peel and the Mariapeel surrounding the former peat districts of Griendtsveen and Helenaveen are also remnants of this formerly vast high peat district. They are beautiful, largely accessible nature reserves that together cover an area of over 2,500 hectares.   

Peat up to 8 meters high
On the west side of the Deurne Peel lies the Peel fault line which causes the groundwater in both Peel lands to be dammed up. As a result of these wet conditions, the peat moor has been able to bank up for centuries to form a pack of 6 to 8 meters high.  

Traces of peat cutting
The area must have had a surface of at least 30,000 ha in the past. Large scale peat cutting used to take place here. Obvious traces have remained, in particular the many canals, ditches and peat tracks that meander through the two peat districts. As of 1980-1981, the Mariapeel area is a designated nature reserve.  

Peat bogs, heathland and sand ridges
In this varying landscape of impenetrable peat bogs, wetlands, open heathland, plains, woodlands and sand ridges grow numerous rare plants. It is furthermore home to one of the richest bird populations of Western Europe.