Car & Van Hire - Hechtel

Hechtel is a small town with a huge personality. It might not be known for its tourist hotspots, but its many attractions are sure to take your trip to new heights. The town is nestled between two important nature reserves that encompass several biomes. De Teut is a lush, dog-friendly habitat with a popular 6.1 km hiking trail. Cyclists adore the Houthalen-East and Houthalen-Helchteren routes for their wooded trails. If you have a car hire in Hechtel, the parking lot south of Military Domain will place you within walking distance of the reserve.

If you prefer to enjoy nature when there are 15 holes involved, Voetgolf combines football and golf into a two-hour game. If you're travelling with young children, Oostappen Park Blauwe Meer has a shallow lake with its own playground equipment. Rent a bike, take a walk with Fido, or relax in the nearby sauna. There are also beach volleyball and basketball courts for energetic travellers.

Nothing portrays Hechtel-Eksel's old-world charm better than its Old Market, which has all the Belgian cuisine you could wish for. It might only have one road, but it's crammed with cafes and bistros. Be sure to taste WURST's famous gourmet "haute dogs" while you're in the area.

Every cyclist's dream track lies seven minutes from Hechtel. Bosland is a densely-wooded area with roaming sky trails and surreal structures. You'll cycle through the trees of the Pijnven Nature Reserve, where coniferous branches almost touch the sky. The route passes a series of old watermills and lakes. The trails can be followed on foot or horseback, and the Bosland treasure hunts will add a generous dose of adventure to your experience.

Hechtel's star mill and millers house are cherished examples of the past, and you can still visit them today. The windmill was built in 1801 and has a characteristic star-shaped cap. The house once belonged to a 19th-century miller, but it's now been transformed into a museum. Its exhibits tools and furniture that illustrate the lifestyles of its ancient inhabitants. If you take a guided tour, you'll see a live demonstration of the mill in action. The museum doesn't forget its younger tourists, who can take a traditional bread-making workshop.

Sint-Lambertuskerk is right in the centre of Hechtel. This Roman Catholic Church is decorated with ornate arches and beautifully-lit stained glass windows. Don't be fooled by its unassuming exterior – it's well worth the visit.

The N715 runs straight through the middle of Hechtel-Eksel. The N73 will carry you into the east, while the N747 will connect you to Eksel towards the northeast. The N715 experiences congestion at the southern border of the town, so take the offramp into Dom Boscostraat during peak hour. You might also experience traffic jams at the N74 offramp.

As you enter the town, you'll start encountering Hechtel's narrow, winding streets. They can be confronting if you're not used to driving on the right side of the road, so slow down and take it at your own pace. Hechtel also has several roundabouts. Yield right and use your indicator as you exit. The town relies on European signage. If you're entering from a non-Eu state, we recommend some pre-holiday road sign studies.

The town itself rarely experiences traffic jams, but if you're in a hurry, stay away from Kerkstraat, Heuvelstraat, and Oude Baan during rush hour. These are the town's busiest streets, and they experience moderate traffic flow between 17:30 and 09:00 every morning. Evening rush hour falls between 16:30 and 18:00. Even so, if you're a city dweller, Hechtel's "traffic jams" will remind you of a quiet Sunday morning.

If you've arranged a car or van hire in Hechtel, stay abreast of the town's strict parking laws by sticking to designated, clearly-signed areas and parking lots. You can buy a blue zone disc if you're counting pennies. This will buy you two hours of free parking at applicable lots. Most on-street parking comes at a fee, so keep your eye open for parking meters.

There are a few commercial parking lots on either side of the N73 as you enter the town. Parking De Schans is a well-maintained open-air lot right along popular transit routes. You can also park at Twaalf Septemberplein or Bosland Pijven.

Belgian traffic regulations require you to carry your "controle technique" certificate, insurance papers, and passport when you drive. Short-term visitors may carry a US driving license. If you're visiting for less than 185 days, you can rely on your International Driving Permit.

Belgians have been rated some of the most stressed drivers in Europe, but local roads are well-maintained with plenty of direction signs. Hechtel is thus an easy town to navigate, provided you have a GPS to hand.