De Liereman, Nature reserve between Oud-Turnhout and Arendonk, Belgium.

De Liereman is a nature reserve of 439 hectares on the territory of Oud-Turnhout and Arendonk, managed by Natuurpunt. It holds wet and dry heath, gale shrub, alder and willow carr, birch-oak and pine woods, drift sand and meadow bird areas. A visitor centre is the starting point for six waymarked walks.

Archaeological finds at Bergstraat and Korhaan show human presence possibly 14,000 years ago; 50,000 Late Palaeolithic and Mesolithic flint artefacts were found in Oud-Turnhout during the 19th century. The 1775 Ferraris map shows an almost uncultivated area of dunes, fens and marshes where local heath farmers grazed cattle and cut peat for fuel. From the 19th century the land was split up, afforested or cultivated, and in 1940 it was protected as a landscape.

The name Liereman comes from a medieval word meaning marshland, reflecting the wetlands that once dominated this area. Visitors can still see these sodden landscapes that define the reserve today.

The area is best explored on foot, with several marked walking routes guiding you through different sections. A visitor center provides a good starting point from which you can access the various parts of the reserve.

The reserve is home to rare bird and insect species that are difficult to find elsewhere in the region. These special creatures benefit from the varied habitats created by the patchwork of heathlands, wetlands, and forests.