Weißes Venn, Protected area in Reken, Germany

Weißes Venn is a protected area near Reken consisting of moorland, heaths, and nutrient-poor sandy terrain. The landscape features water bodies scattered throughout and forms a varied pattern of open and forested sections.

The Weißes Venn was originally one of the largest contiguous moor areas in the Münsterland, but settlement and farming from the 19th century, together with sand extraction and transport, reshaped it into small fields, pastures, hedgerows and flooded sand pits. On 13 May 2012 the six surrounding municipalities — Coesfeld, Dülmen, Gescher, Heiden, Reken and Velen — jointly submitted the project sketch Weißes Venn: Auf dem Weg in die Zukunft to the Regionale 2016; the intercommunal concept was raised to B-status in 2014.

The name Weißes Venn refers to the former raised-bog complex; Venn is the regional word for moor. Six municipalities — Coesfeld, Dülmen, Gescher, Heiden, Reken and Velen — jointly submitted the project Weißes Venn: Auf dem Weg in die Zukunft to the Regionale 2016 on 13 May 2012, and it reached B-status in 2014.

The Weißes Venn lies near Reken in the Kreis Borken, with the Geisheide heath adjoining it to the southwest. Its northwestern, western and eastern parts belong to the Borkenberge military training area, so those sections are not open to visitors. The six surrounding municipalities of Coesfeld, Dülmen, Gescher, Heiden, Reken and Velen coordinate the area through the joint project Weißes Venn: Auf dem Weg in die Zukunft, submitted to Regionale 2016 on 13 May 2012.

The north-eastern part holds nutrient-rich peat-cutting ponds stocked with carp, fringed by reed, bulrush and bur-reed beds and sedge stands. The area also lies within the Borkenberge military training ground, which has limited access and shaped the land. Six municipalities — Coesfeld, Dülmen, Gescher, Heiden, Reken and Velen — submitted a joint project outline for the Regionale 2016 on 13 May 2012.