From the top of this fire and lookout tower, at about 42 meters high, you are rewarded with a panoramic view you won't find anywhere else. The expansiveness of Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide unfolds before your eyes. Allow yourself to be overwhelmed by a grand sense of space and vastness.
Dynamic View
The tower is constructed from a moss-grey steel framework with multiple triangles. The twisted segments of the stairs create a dynamic whole. The silhouette of the tower changes from every angle. The wooden stairs are placed in all directions, so the view during the climb goes in all directions. Through the colors and materials of wood and steel, the tower blends into the natural environment. At 12 and 24 meters high, there are large viewing platforms. The design of the tower is by NOHNIK architecture and landscapes. A gem to see. View here the location.
Keeping Watch for Fire
At the top of the tower, there is a post for fire brigade volunteers at thirty meters. During fire-prone periods, volunteers keep watch and alert the emergency services at the sight of even the smallest smoke plume. At the top, the communication mast reaches a height of 42 meters. Smart cameras can automatically detect forest fires using artificial intelligence.
"I can so enjoy the pheasants, a crow arguing with a curlew, the sheep walking somewhere on the purple ground at the base of the tower. Or the buzzards soaring through the sky while I scan the horizon with binoculars and peek for any plume of smoke that might seem suspicious."
Vera Milis, volunteer fire tower lookout
Watching is done with your… Legs!
Admire this observation tower in combination with a walk? Walking routes Libel, Schaap, Ree, and Rups pass by this landmark. Tip: between mid-August and mid-September, the heather blooms. During this period, the vast heathland transforms into a beautiful purple sea.