8 reasons to visit Vincent's Homeland
The most famous person to come from North Brabant must surely be Vincent van Gogh! The master painter was born in North Brabant and lived and worked there for most of his life. It was his life in the villages of Brabant, surrounded by farmland, that moulded him as a person and as an artist. Tread in his footsteps and discover the stories of the world-famous painter and of Brabant, the place that left a place in his heart.
1. Van Gogh in Het Noordbrabants Museum
Admire original works by Vincent van Gogh
Admire original works by Vincent van Gogh
Did you know it’s possible to admire original works by Vincent van Gogh in North Brabant? You will find them in Het Noordbrabants Museum in 's-Hertogenbosch. In addition to 12 of his works, the permanent collection ‘Van Gogh in Brabant’ also contains letters, personal documents, photos and animations.
If you are already in 's-Hertogenbosch, combine a day out with a visit to the Design Museum Den Bosch, take a boat trip along the Binnendieze subterranean waterway or have a look inside the magnificent St. John’s Cathedral; the largest cathedral in the Netherlands!
2. Discover Van Gogh on your bike or by foot
Van Gogh left his mark on many places in North Brabant, from his birthplace in Zundert to the watermills he painted many times in and around Eindhoven. Cycle routes and footpaths connect these beautiful heritage locations. You can enjoy the varying Brabant countryside on the Van Gogh cycling and walking routes while passing through places on the way that moulded and inspired Van Gogh.
The Van Gogh cycle route has a total length of 435 kilometres giving you a choice of 10 route sections. You can discover the Van Gogh National Park on foot by walking along the intersections of the five Van Gogh NP walking routes as though you were actually walking through a real painting! The routes pass through Nuenen, Etten-Leur, Zundert, Helvoirt and Tilburg.
Check out all the Van Gogh cycling and walking routes
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Van Gogh cycle route Zundert – Northwest
Van Gogh cycle route Zundert – Northwest
3 hour 50 minutes 46 kmThis Van Gogh cycle route will introduce you to the six Van Gogh Monuments in Zundert, the five Van Gogh Monuments in Etten-Leur and various places...
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Van Gogh cycle route Zundert – Northeast
Van Gogh cycle route Zundert – Northeast
4 hour 40 minutes 56 kmThis Van Gogh cycle route will introduce you to the six Van Gogh Monuments in Zundert.
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Vincent van Gogh cycle route Breda
Vincent van Gogh cycle route Breda
2 hour 45 minutes 33 kmThis Van Gogh cycle route takes you past the Van Gogh highlights in and around Breda and Tilburg. There is a lovely connecting loop between both ci...
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Vincent van Gogh cycle route Etten-Leur North
Vincent van Gogh cycle route Etten-Leur North
2 hour 30 minutes 32 kmThis Van Gogh cycle route starts in the centre of Etten-Leur, close to the five Van Gogh Monuments.
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Vincent van Gogh cycle route Etten-Leur South
Vincent van Gogh cycle route Etten-Leur South
2 hour 25 minutes 29 kmThe start of a career The Van Gogh family lived in Etten from 1875 to 1882. Father Theodorus was the minister there. Etten was frequently a place o...
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Vincent van Gogh cycle route Eindhoven
Vincent van Gogh cycle route Eindhoven
3 hour 20 minutes 40 kmIn the period that Vincent van Gogh lived in Nuenen (1883-1885), he regularly walked to Eindhoven. He had three students there and gave lessons in...
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Vincent van Gogh cycle route Helvoirt
Vincent van Gogh cycle route Helvoirt
1 hour 40 minutes 21 kmHelvoirt is located in a rural area in the middle of North Brabant. This little gem, surrounded by beautiful countryside, forms part of the Van Gog...
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Vincent van Gogh cycle route Tilburg
Vincent van Gogh cycle route Tilburg
4 hour 48 kmOn 15 September 1866, Vincent van Gogh who was then thirteen years old, was registered in the council records in Tilburg.
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Vincent van Gogh cycle route ’s-Hertogenbosch
Vincent van Gogh cycle route ’s-Hertogenbosch
2 hour 35 minutes 31 km's-Hertogenbosch kent een rijke historie die teruggaat naar het jaar 1185. Binnen de stadsmuren heeft ’s-Hertogenbosch haar middeleeuwse structuur...
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Vincent van Gogh cycle route Nuenen
Vincent van Gogh cycle route Nuenen
4 hour 5 minutes 49 kmYou will be cycling through a Vincent van Gogh painting on this route, past a unique collection of buildings, monuments and landscapes.
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Van Gogh NP walking tour Nuenen
Van Gogh NP walking tour Nuenen
2 hour 10 minutes 10 kmThis walking tour takes you through beautiful countryside and past Nuenen’s heritage.
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Van Gogh NP walking tour Etten-Leur
Van Gogh NP walking tour Etten-Leur
3 hour 30 minutes 14 kmWelcome to Etten-Leur. This is the place where Vincent van Gogh started his artistic career in 1881.
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Van Gogh NP walking tour in Zundert
Van Gogh NP walking tour in Zundert
1 hour 30 minutes 8 kmThe extremely varied walking tour (8 km) takes you through Vincent’s birthplace of Zundert.
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Van Gogh NP walking tour Tilburg
Van Gogh NP walking tour Tilburg
4 hour 16 kmDiscover the area where the young Vincent took drawing lessons.
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Van Gogh NP Walking Route Helvoirt
Van Gogh NP Walking Route Helvoirt
3 hour 20 minutes 15 kmDiscover all the places where Vincent van Gogh lived and worked.
3. Visit Van Gogh Village Nuenen
When you say Van Gogh, you are saying Nuenen... this Brabant village close to Eindhoven inspired him to produce his first masterpiece – The Potato Eaters – in 1885. You can become acquainted with Van Gogh as a person and follow his development into a world-famous painter in the Van Gogh Village Museum. If you want to play with light and colour just as Vincent did in his paintings, you can do so in the Lightlab, fun for young and old!
There is plenty more to discover in Van Gogh Village Nuenen after visiting the museum. You can admire heritage sites that have a direct link to Van Gogh in more than 20 locations. Discover the stories of this picturesque, natural village during a walk past the monuments.
4. Van Gogh Church in Etten-Leur - Please note: temporarily closed due to realisation of new interactive Van Gogh experience
After several attempts to become an art dealer, teacher and preacher, the 28-year-old Vincent once again stayed with his parents in the village of Etten. Not only was this the place where he first fell in love, he also decided to pursue his dream to become an artist there.
Unusual memories of him are there to be witnessed in the Van Gogh Church in Etten-Leur, including father Theodorus van Gogh’s original pulpit. Opposite the church is the famous Moeierboom tree; this majestic linden tree was planted in 1675 and has been a place for meeting and greeting for more than 345 years, so also for Vincent van Gogh.
Please note: temporarily closed due to realisation of new interactive Van Gogh experience. Expected opening spring 2025.
5. Starry, starry night...
Experience the most innovative and artist cycle path in the Netherlands! The 600-metre long Van Gogh-Roosegaarde cycle path – located between Eindhoven and Nuenen – has thousands of tiny stones that light up in the dark. The cycle path is inspired by Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’. The cycle path is also part of the Van Gogh cycle route in Nuenen.
6. Van Gogh murals
In the same way that North Brabant became an inspiration for Van Gogh, the artist inspires cities and artists in Brabant to this day. You will find impressive Van Gogh murals in cities such as Breda, Eindhoven, Tilburg, 's-Hertogenbosch and Helmond. They have been produced by big names and young talent from the street art scene. Each one of the murals tells a story about Van Gogh and his family, and their connection to North Brabant.
7. Vincents birthplace
He was born here in 1853
He was born here in 1853
You can go right back to Vincent’s beginnings in Zundert, the village in West Brabant where he was born. The Van GoghHuis in Zundert cherishes wonderful memories of Vincent’s younger years. Imagine you are here in the Van Gogh family’s living room.
Combine your visit with a walk through Zundert or across the Oude Buisse Heide heathland, a beautiful nature reserve where Vincent wandered around for hours as a young boy. Plan your route easily using the walking route planner.
8. Draw in the style of Vincent
Discover the artist in yourself? You will find Vincent’s Art Room in the Paleis-Raadhuis (Palace Council Office) in Tilburg. This is where Vincent had his first drawing lessons. Nowadays it is a top location for developing talent and the enjoyment of drawing. Drawing lessons, courses and creative workshops are organised for children, young people and adults. You can only visit the art room by appointment.
