We’re nearing the end of the year 2021. We anticipated that 2021 will be different from 2020. Corona came knocking in 2020, and 2021 didn’t make much of a difference for many people throughout the world. Similarly, travel was limited in my case, and my road trips spent the majority of its time on Belgian soil.

For my final voyage in 2021, I was flirting with the Belgian-Dutch borders. Because of Covid, citizens in the Netherlands are still on lockdown, and only a few stores are open to the public. People had hoped for a better year’s end.

The last ride is a two-day adventure. I had a two-hour gap between customers two weeks ago and decided to spend it with my beloved Italian horse. It did, however, lead me to the Dutch town of Budel. Budel is well-known in the motocross world for its deep sandy course in the Military nature-practice park. The location is called Budelse – Weerter Bergen.

I also spent a lot of time in the deep sand, which was one of my favorite areas to practice motocross. It was like stepping back in time when I arrived at the MX track. A large Chinook helicopter was hovering above my head as I stood to inspect the circuit. I was fascinated by what the Boeing helicopter was doing, and it was flying spectacularly.

I hopped back on my bike and tried to keep up with the Chinook. The helicopter hovered above the Grote Heide and flew extremely close to the surface. I nearly toured the entire large natural park because I attempted to follow the military plane. I came to rest near the woods after noticing a grenade field. The Dutch used it for military training purposes. I caught on camera in the Laura forest in the city of Weert..

A man stopped his bike next to me and asked if I was lost while I was standing next to my bike. I was a little surprised, so we began talking. And what a conversation it would be…

Gert was his name. I told him how much I enjoyed the landscape and asked about why the military chinook was flying circles so near to the surface. He told me that they did a lot of practice over this nature area, but the enormous nature park used to be a large swamp. It was near the Belgian border, as indicated by the numerous borderland posts. They were posted in 1843, but it was also the location where the Germans made a death thread in 1915 (dodendraad) to protect the border during the 1914-1918 war.

Gert began with a legendary story that occurred during World War II, around the time we are now.
There was no natural park during the war; it was just a swamp, and there was a 2.5-kilometer border area between the horrific Death Thread and the Dutch border. In the worst of times, there are always people who want or have something to gain. Similarly, some Dutch farmers attempted to make a fortune along the Dutch border. Because of the famine, they made a lot of money through smuggling.

The pretty much unknown history of ‘Bolle Jan’ sheep smuggling in the region takes place during the First World War, a few days before Christmas in 1916. Jan Hendriks was a Weerter businessman who traded in grain and grain waste products, among other things. He also put his money toward reclaiming the wet heath and swamps that stretched for miles. He got his nickname ‘Bolle Jan’.

Gert told me: “There was a story that he made money with the enemy during the conflict. The Germans, in this situation. He forced 850 sheep into the swamp and pushed them down the Death Thread (dodendraad) to meet Germans and sell the sheep to them. It was already a marvel that he was able to get one peace to the German/ Belgian border, but he knew the area like no other. Normally, 2000 Volt of electricity was applied to the threads, but not this time. Bolle Jan made certain the Germans on the border had food and could celebrate Christmas.
The Dead Thread was 357 kilometers long and caused many deaths. On a border, individuals have always smuggled and made money, but this war story was repeated a few years ago and it fascinated the public.

Some images and links from Gert and his story: All credits to him!

Today, the nature park is strikingly beautiful, and the people of natuurpunt are raising centuries-old cows. The photograph I took captures it all.

Gert’s story was interesting, and it was an honor for me that he took the time to provide me with so much information. My images were insufficient to tell the story, as I discovered. So, near the end of the year, I returned to get more information.

I passed through Budel once more before arriving at Peel Nature Park. There were still a lot of war memorials to see. A lot of monuments are dedicated to the War.

During our conversation, Gert also mentioned that the water canal had played an important role in many years of history. With the canal becoming a reality and frontiers crossing, smuggling had become a very sneaky possibility. I went past the canal and took my first photographs on Dutch soil. It would be an unexpected road trip with so many wartime bunkers remaining in good condition.

As I continued my ride towards Peel’s nature park, I spotted small marks with the sign Peel-Raam. The Peel-Raam Line (Dutch: Peel-Raamstelling) was a Dutch defense line established in 1939 that was attacked and conquered by German forces on May 10, 1940.

Behind the Maas Line was the defense line (about 9 km until 21 km distance). Grave, where a barrack complex was established as part of the Peel-Raam line, serves as the starting point for the defense line. From there, the line went via Mill, Peel, and along the Zuid-Willemsvaart until it reached the Belgian border in Weert. The defense line was linked to the Grebbe line in the north. The natural protection provided by the area’s swamps, rivers, and canals could benefit the defense line. The Defensiekanaal, a man-made barrier, was built in the northern section (a canal). Casemates (200m apart) and barbwire obstructions were used to form the defense line.

A view of the large wetlands at the Peel Nature Park.

There were few communication routes between the Casemates, and the main force of troops was far behind the Casemates’ line.

The Dutch would have intended to link the defense line with the defense line along the Albert Canal in Belgium. The Belgian army, on the other hand, desired a new defense line (the Orange Line (Dutch Oranjelinie)) along the Tilburg-Waalwijk line and the Bergsche Maas. As a result, the defense line was porous, and the enemy could go around it, crossing into Belgian territory.

During my road journey, I was able to capture a large number of photographs. I’m not going into great depth about the photographs and will let them speak for themselves.

Today we are angry because it rains and there are restrictions, but people fail to recognize that the greatest limitation to liberty is in their own hands…

I know that as we approach closer to 2022, everyone has a single aim that he hopes to achieve in the coming year. I’ve made a note of one.

I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet Gert in the woods and have him reach out to me with his fascinating history. The lovely outdoors is available to everyone, and a simple conversation with others can make a world of difference. It provides joy and love to people of all colors and religions.

Embrace love and treasure our special memories together. Sending love to everyone on the planet and warm regards for the new year! Remember, whether you’re in lockdown or at war, a smile and love will always win!

Thank you 

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