Riemst (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Riemst and 5 municipalities from the Netherlands, Flanders, and Wallonia will jointly develop the Jeker and Maas Border Park. Coordinator Bart Vandermeeren highlights projects like the 200‑m Caster footbridge.
As VRT News reported, Riemst, in the province of Flanders, Belgium, will work closely with 5 other municipalities from the Netherlands, Flanders, and Wallonia to develop the Jeker and Maas Border Park.
Officials said that even though the towns are next to each other, language and national borders often made them work separately. Each municipality had its own plans, and as a result, some opportunities were missed.
The new collaboration aims to change this. Coordinators said it will create a shared vision for the park and improve the management of natural, cultural, and recreational resources across all six municipalities.
How will Riemst and 5 towns transform the Jeker and Maas Border Park?
Riemst is part of a new cross-border partnership aimed at strengthening natural areas, creating a resilient landscape, and promoting sustainable tourism.
“Several concrete projects are already planned for the coming months and years, with a strong focus on the Jeker Valley. The expansion of soft mobility is also planned, with opportunities for a bike-sharing system and new waterway connections.”
The project also focuses on walking and cycling connections across the region. A major feature is the Caster footbridge near Kanne in Riemst. The suspension bridge will be 200 meters long and 50 meters above the Albert Canal. The bridge is expected to open next spring and will link trails and natural areas across the park.
Visitors will pay a small fee to cross the bridge. The money will be used to improve the park. Officials said the revenue will help maintain walking paths, protect natural habitats, and enhance the landscape in the Grenspark.
Riemst, along with municipalities in the surrounding areas, is currently working on a cross-border initiative named Grenspark Jeker & Maas to link nature, mobility, and tourism in the Netherlands and Belgium, which has long been in the works. In June 2024, Riemst added this park to its master plan as a strategic pillar of its long-term approach.
Parts of the park’s initial infrastructure were realised in February 2024, when a new walking trail opened in La Frayère, just over the border from Kanne (Riemst). The walking trail has rest stops, floating platforms. The area is populated with orchids, bats, and many bird species that depend on water.
