Hasselt (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): This summer, 774 visitors kayaked at Herkenrode Abbey, using 305 two-person and 164 single kayaks. Joannah François from Peddelsport Vlaanderen highlighted the program’s success and upcoming routes.
It has been said that this summer, visitors to Herkenrode Abbey in Hasselt can enjoy a kayaking trip that lets them see the beautiful nature around the area. The kayaking lasts about one and a half hours and takes people on a peaceful journey through the calm surroundings of the abbey. While paddling between trees and reeds, kayakers go from Herkenrode Abbey to the nearby village of Kuringen.
What makes the new kayaking attraction at Herkenrode Abbey so popular?
Since the summer holidays began, this new kayaking attraction has become very popular, with 774 people joining the trips in the last few months. The route lets visitors enjoy the calm and beautiful scenery around the abbey, mixing nature with a little adventure. This new activity brings something fresh to the historic site, encouraging more people to explore the area from the water.
During the summer, kayaking at Herkenrode Abbey brought in a lot of visitors, with 305 two-person kayaks and 164 single kayaks being used. Joannah François from Peddelsport Vlaanderen mentioned that many people liked the two-person kayaks because they preferred to share the experience with a friend instead of going alone. This love for kayaking with a partner made the two-person kayaks very popular. Even with some weather challenges, the kayaking program stayed active all summer, with at least one kayak being used every day. People looked forward to good weather, but even on not-so-great days, many were still interested in kayaking. After their trips, participants were excited and shared positive feedback about their experiences. According to François, this strong response and steady interest show that the kayak program was successful, managing to do well despite the weather issues.
People can kayak on the Demer in winter and spring too. Peddelsport Vlaanderen will take a break in April because of bird nesting season. They are also planning a new, longer kayak route from Tuiltermolen to Schulensmeer. This kayaking program is a team effort with Herita Vzw, the City of Hasselt, and Tourism Flanders. If people want to kayak, they need to reserve a spot on the Heritage VZW website, which costs 25 euros for one person and 32 euros for two.
