Schulensmeer

Schulensmeer is an artificial lake in the Belgian province of Limburg, situated in the valley of the river Demer on the territory of Herk-de-Stad (sub-municipality Schulen) and Lummen (sub-municipality Linkhout). It takes its name from the village of Schulen, which lies on the road between Hasselt and Diest. It is Flanders' largest man-made lake, roughly 2.8 km long and about 180 m wide, covering close to 94 hectares with around 10 kilometers of accessible shoreline.

How did the lake come to be?

In the early 1970s, planners needed a site to mine sand for the construction of the E314 motorway between Lummen and Aarschot. At the same time, a retention basin was being planned in the nearby Schulensbroek to help manage the waters of the Demer. Combining both needs meant agricultural land only had to be sacrificed in one location, and the sand extraction that shaped the lake basin took place in 1976. Before that, the area was an extensive floodplain that was submerged several times a year during river floods.

What feeds the lake?

The Demer is the lake's main water source, but the same valley also carries several other streams: the Mangelbeek, Zwarte Beek, Herk, Gete, Velpe and Begijnenbeek. This makes Schulensmeer an important buffer basin, absorbing excess water during periods of high river levels in the region.

How deep is the lake?

Depths in Schulensmeer reach up to about 7 meters in places, with the lakebed varying across different sections of the water body — a factor that matters both for its ecology and for anyone practicing water sports here.

What can visitors do at the lake?

Over the years Schulensmeer has developed into a multi-activity recreation site. Sailing, windsurfing and kayaking are all practiced on the water, and fishing is permitted during daytime hours. Anglers can catch species such as bass, bream, whitefish, carp, catfish, eel, roach, pike-perch, pike and tench. Walking and cycling routes circle the lake, allowing visitors to explore the surrounding nature at their own pace.

What surrounds the lake?

The lake forms part of the roughly 200-hectare Schulensbroek nature reserve, which preserves the Demer's former floodplain. A visitor center dedicated to the lake and its ecology operates nearby, offering more information on how the lake was created and on ongoing conservation work, including the LIFE Delta project.

Frequently asked questions

Is Schulensmeer a natural lake? No, it is an artificial lake created in 1976 through sand extraction combined with the construction of a retention basin for the river Demer.

Where exactly is the lake located? In the western part of Limburg province, across the municipalities of Herk-de-Stad (Schulen) and Lummen (Linkhout).

Can you fish here? Yes, fishing is allowed during the day, and the lake holds species such as pike, pike-perch, carp and catfish.

How big is the lake? About 94 hectares in surface area, roughly 2.8 km long and 180 m wide, with depths reaching around 7 meters.