10 amazing biking and hiking experiences in North Brabant

The Monastery Trails take you past various monasteries and abbeys in North Brabant. No fewer than 13 routes have been marked out. They tell you the exceptional story of monastery life in Brabant from the past and to the present.

The walks take about 1 to 2.5 hours. If you would rather go on a long-distance walk, choose our Monastery Trail, a walking route covering 330 kilometres that takes you past 50 (former) monasteries and abbeys in North Brabant in 15 stages.

Ever walked through water, keeping your feet dry? You can give it a try at the Mozesbrug in Halsteren - in the shadow of Bergen op Zoom. Or what about a visit to the Moerputten Bridge, just south of 's-Hertogenbosch - it's an old railway bridge that used to be part of the Langstraat railway line. You can make some stunning photos here. Want to discover more photogenic places in North Brabant? Take a look at our Instagram page.

Sagas and legends live on in Brabant. These folk tales come to life with the Sagas & Legends routes. Experience the adventures of the members of the White Feather Gang in Loon op Zand or discover the story of 'child prodigy' Jan van Gorp with the Jan van Gorp cycling and walking route. Or choose one of the Border Stories Routes, with unique stories about smuggling, closed borders and borderless collaborations.

If you are going out and about with children, follow in the footsteps of the Kempen Gnomes with two cycling routes around Gnome King Kyrie. See if you are brave enough to explore Brabant with these Sagas & Legends Cycling routes.

More than 435 km of cycling fun, divided into 10 different routes. North Brabant is where Vincent Van Gogh was born, grew up, drew his first sketches on paper, and where he painted his first masterpiece, 'The Potato Eaters'. Cycle past some beautiful cultural hotspots in Zundert, Tilburg, Etten-Leur, Nuenen and 's-Hertogenbosch. You could visit the Opwetten Watermill, the Van Gogh Roosegaarde cycle path or Het Noordbrabants Museum. Find out more on our Van Gogh page. 

North Brabant is the absolute top destination when it comes to the countryside. With stunning countryside and four National Parks, you will be spoilt for choice. Whether you want to go cycling, walking or get on a mountain bike or horse, you can discover many beautiful places with the TOP Nature Routes. If you would like to spend a night in style, visit some of the accommodations amid the Brabant countryside.

The Zuiderwaterlinie (southern water line) is the oldest, longest and most used waterline in the Netherlands. You can take a unique walking tour past these fortified towns and their surrounding countryside, all the way from Grave to Bergen op Zoom. The Zuiderwaterlinie Footpath is highly recommended. The trail covers a total of 290 kilometres and passes 11 of Brabant’s fortified towns. If you’d prefer a shorter walk, follow one of the partial routes.

Heusden is one of the most well-known fortified towns in North Brabant. From the top of the ramparts, you have fabulous views over the Brabant countryside. With its picturesque streets, narrow alleys and many monuments, Heusden is recommended for a wonderful walk.

Let the exceptional stories about Brabant’s food culture inspire you and go on a culinary exploration. In our specially compiled Food Routes, you experience and taste the most delicious locations in North Brabant. These range from trendy food concepts in North Brabant and Kempen’s regional products to delicious West Brabant asparagus. Immerse yourself in Brabant’s food culture en route.

A cycle path from the main road allows cyclists to take a free look at the exhibition in the War Museum in Overloon. That's a worldwide first, as the museum has the first bicycle bridge that literally cuts through a museum.You are able to cycle 90 metres through the main museum hall itself, at a height of three metres!

If you would like to discover more about the war history in Brabant, cycle (or walk) further in the footsteps of the liberators with the Liberation Route Brabant routes.

Discover our stunning landscapes from above! What do you make of the Flaestoren Tower in Esbeek (photo 1), or its bigger brother the Kempentoren Tower in Spoorpark Tilburg (photo 2)? Or enjoy views across the Brabantse Wal from the Pompejus Lookout Tower in Halsteren (photo 3), on the outskirts of Bergen op Zoom. This is also where you will find the Mozesbrug (Moses Bridge) where you can walk through water without getting your feet wet. You can venture up the 25 metre Herperduin Lookout Tower (photo 4) in De Maashorst Nature Reserve, close to Oss.

Want to plan your own cycling or walking route? You can! If you're planning to walk or cycle around North Brabant, you can try the easy to use route network. It's a network of beautiful and clearly signposted walking and cycling paths throughout North Brabant. Each junction has its own number. 

You can get started at Hiking in Brabant and Cycling in Brabant. Print it out and head off! And the network doesn't stop at the borders of Brabant. The neighbouring provinces of Zeeland, Limburg and a part of Flanders are also connected to it.