Berkendonk is a (well-designed and) busy recreational lake (since around 1994) directly east of the Helmond district of Rijpelberg. The lake was created in the late 1980s from sand extraction in connection with construction projects in the area. Berkendonk reached its full size in 2012 with a water surface of approximately 45 ha. The municipality is busy finishing the nature reserve on the north side of the lake. In the summer, the recreational lake is a busy bathing beach for residents of both Deurne and Helmond, with (on both the northern and southern sides) a gently sloping swimming area, marked out with floating lines and grassy sunbathing areas.