The story of the New Fire Lookout Tower!!

Despite the fact that Outdoor Park Reusel and its Fire Lookout Tower only exist since 2008, they do still have a rich history. This story finds its origin in the 1930’s, with the cultivation of the natural area where the tower is currently located. This area, called ’the Peelse Heide’ used to be a very robust area, among others consisting of heath, hence the name (Heide = Dutch for heath). Partly due to the need for a wood supply to use in constructing mine shafts in Limburg, a forest was planted. These woods primarily consist of pines. This because its long grain makes pine wood exceptionally suitable as these mines’ support beams. However, pinewood also has a big downside: ‘It’s highly flammable’. 

In 1933, alongside the Burgemeester Willekenslaan, a house and a tower were constructed. This tower, referred to as the ‘Fire Lookout Tower’, was used to keep an eye out to the surrouding woodlands, to be on time alarming the Fire Department. The adjacent house was called the ‘vurwerkerswoning’, and became the accommodation of the municipal official leading the re-arrangement of the nature area.

This first Fire Lookout Tower unfortunately did not last long. Ironically, this tower burned down. Later, a metal substitute was built back, which until today is still known as ‘The Old Fire Lookout Tower (D’n Ouwe Brandtoren)’. Due to developments in communicative technology, the original tower lost its value, and was deconstructed. The adjacent ‘vurwerkerswoning’ stayed, and is still there up until today. You can visit the house, now known as the ‘Old Fire Lookout Tower’s Tavern’, to enjoy a bite and a drink.

Quite some years later, the woods became a recreational hotspot as well. Hiking and biking were, and still are, some very popular activities in the area. That’s why a group of enthusiastic people started exploiting workshops around the so-called ‘Nordic Walking’. This idea eventually grew to become a ‘Mega Outdoor Day’. At this assigned day, visitors could experience a broad range of different outdoor activities. After the huge succes of this event, two of these enthusiasts started planning more outdoor-related activities, eventually building the so-called ‘New Fire Lookout Tower’ (De Nieuwe Brandtoren). This latter idea, with the goal to revive cultural herritage and the well-known concept, this time around with a recreational purpose. 

The newly built tower is quite an icon on itself, apart from the mere recreational purpose. Due to it’s unique appearance of six interlocked cubes, the tower has gotten quite some attention from both national and international media channels. It also got presented at the Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven. 

A unique tower, a unique silhouet, a unique purpose and a unique story. Proudly reaching above the trees, waiting until the guests try and dare to overcome the height, to enjoy the amazing view. 

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