Vallei van het Markske (ONFF-0868)

On Sunday 31st March 2024 at 09:32 UTC, Zdenko 9A4FM, a radio amateur from Croatia made contact with Toonie ON/PA9CW/P, a radio amateur from the Netherlands who was operating from Vallei van het Markske (ONFF-0868) on the 20m amateur radio band.

The Vallei van het Markske (ONFF-0868) protected area is in the valley of the Merkske, which forms a natural border between Belgium and the Netherland, lying between Noorderkempen and North Brabant.

In 2003 an area of 167 hectares, in the valley, became part of the Flemish Ecological Network and in 2020 an area of 132 hectares, became subject to a Flemish Region Nature Management Plan Type 4 and an IUCN Management Category IV area.

An IUCN Management Category IV area Is an area to protect particular species or habitats and are managed to prioritise this objective.