8 reasons why you should visit Vincent's Homeland
The closest you can get to Van Gogh
Anyone who wants to know more about Vincent van Gogh simply must come to North Brabant. This is where the master painter was born, lived and worked the majority of his life. This shaped him as a person and as a painter. Explore the places in North Brabant that remind you of Van Gogh and follow his footsteps, literally.
1. Van Gogh in Het Noordbrabants Museum
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Het Noordbrabants Museum
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Binnendieze
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City centre 's-Hertogenbosch
The only place in North Brabant where you can admire original works by Vincent van Gogh is Het Noordbrabants Museum in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Recommended for people of all ages! Experience Vincent van Gogh’s years in North Brabant through his paintings, and with animations, films and soundtracks developed especially for the museum.
And while you are in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, combine your day out with a visit to the Design Museum Den Bosch, take a boat trip through the Binnendieze underground waterway or take a look inside the beautiful St. John's Cathedral.
2. Discover Van Gogh by bike or on foot
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Zundert
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Nuenen, De Roosendonck Mill
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What could be better than exploring Van Gogh’s world by bike or on foot? The Van Gogh bicycle and walking tours are the closest you can get to Vincent! Enjoy the varied landscape of North Brabant and visit the places that shaped and inspired Van Gogh.
The Van Gogh cycle route is at least 435 kilometres in length and has 10 sections from which you can choose. The 5 Van Gogh NP walking routes allow you to explore Van Gogh National Park on foot as if you were walking through a true-to-life painting. The routes pass through Nuenen, Etten-Leur, Zundert, Helvoirt and Tilburg.
If you prefer to have a cycle or hiking map with you, order your route map from Routes in Brabant via the web shop.
3. Visit Van Gogh Village Nuenen
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Van Gogh Village Museum
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Lightlab
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Watermill Nuenen
Whenever you say Van Gogh, you’re saying ‘Nuenen’ ... Van Gogh’s very first masterpiece – the Potato Eaters – was painted here in 1885. In the Van Gogh Village Museum, you can get to know Vincent as a person and follow his development into a world-famous painter. Would you like to play with light and colour like Vincent did in his paintings? You can – in the Lichtlab or Light Lab, which was opened in 2023 in the completely renovated museum.
And there is more. The Van Gogh Village Nuenen has more than 20 places that have a direct link with Van Gogh. Discover the stories of this picturesque, green village while following a route past the monuments.
4. The Van Gogh Church in Etten-Leur
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Van Gogh-Church
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Van Gogh wall
After his attempts to become an art dealer, a teacher and a preacher, the 28-year-old Vincent went back to live with his parents in Etten. It was here that he fell in love for the first time here, and it was here that he pursued his dream to become an artist.
There are unusual memories in the Van Gogh Church in Etten-Leur, including the original pulpit of his father, Theodorus van Gogh. Definitely worth a visit!
5. Starry, starry night...
Experience the most innovative and artistic cycle path in the Netherlands! The 600-metre-long Van Gogh-Roosegaarde Cycle Path – located between Eindhoven and Nuenen – contains thousands of small stones that glow in the dark, inspired by the world-famous painting the ‘Starry Night’.
No other cycle path could be so romantic … This unique section of the cycle route is part of the Van Gogh route in Eindhoven.
6. Van Gogh Murals
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Van Gogh Mural Tilburg
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Van Gogh Mural Eindhoven
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Van Gogh Mural Breda
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Van Gogh Mural Helmond
Discover the most amazing works of art right on the street! The impressive murals by Van Gogh can be found in the Brabant cities of Breda, Eindhoven, Tilburg, ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Helmond. In all these artworks, the central theme is the link Van Gogh and his family had with the railways, with trains, with stations, with travel and with North Brabant.
7. Vincent’s birthplace
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Van GoghHouse Zundert
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Zundert
Back to the place where Vincent van Gogh was born in 1853? The Van GoghHuis in Zundert cherishes wonderful memories of Vincent’s early years. You can imagine you are in the living room of the Van Gogh family.
Tip: combine your visit with a stroll through Zundert or over the Oude Buisse Heide, the place where Vincent hung out in his youth.
8. Draw in the style of Vincent
In the Paleis-Raadhuis or City Hall of Tilburg you will find Vincent’s Art Room. This is where Vincent Van Gogh had his first drawing lessons. Now it is the creative place for developing talent and enjoying drawing. Drawing lessons, courses and workshops are organised for children, youth and adults.
The art room can only be visited by appointment. Would you like to discover more about the Van Gogh heritage in Tilburg? Get on your bicycle and explore the Van Gogh cycle route Tilburg.