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🇧🇪 Belgium /Environment & Climate

Rivierenhof park section closed all week due to heat; large branches already falling

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • A section of Rivierenhof park in Deurne, Belgium, remains closed due to the risk of falling branches caused by prolonged heat and drought.
  • The closure will last at least until the end of the week, with reopening contingent on temperatures staying below 25 degrees Celsius for five consecutive days.
  • The affected area contains the park's oldest trees, posing a safety hazard on narrow paths.

A portion of Rivierenhof park in Deurne, Belgium, will remain closed for an indefinite period due to the persistent risk of falling branches. The closure, affecting the zone between Turnhoutsebaan and the castle, is a direct consequence of the ongoing heatwave and severe drought.

The cause is a combination of water shortage and extreme heat that reduces the [strength] in the tree. This changes the cell structure of the wood and the branch loses its firmness.

— Information boardExplaining the scientific reason behind the branches weakening and falling.

Provincial officials have stated that the area, which houses the park's oldest trees, will stay shut until at least the end of the week. The extreme weather conditions have weakened the trees, causing branches to break off easily. This poses a significant danger to visitors, especially on the narrow paths within this section of the park.

There we never take risks.

— Duan GattoFrom the province of Antwerp's leisure department, emphasizing the cautious approach to safety in the delicate zone with narrow paths.

The decision to close the area was made after an incident last week where a large branch fell near people. "The cause is a combination of water shortage and extreme heat that reduces the [strength] in the tree. This changes the cell structure of the wood and the branch loses its firmness," explained an information board for residents.

We always weigh the balance between accessibility and safety.

— Mireille ColsonDeputy for Recreation and Green Domains, explaining the difficult decision-making process for park closures.

Reopening is conditional on a sustained drop in temperature. The zone will only be accessible again once the maximum temperature remains below 25 degrees Celsius for five consecutive days. Despite the closure of this specific section, the larger 135-hectare park remains open, offering visitors alternative areas for recreation and cooling off.

Fortunately, Rivierenhof is 135 hectares in size, so people can still come here to cool off and enjoy walking.

— Mireille ColsonHighlighting that other parts of the park remain accessible despite the closure.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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