Brabant's Monastic Life

North Brabant invites you to reflect and wonder. Discover the richness of the Brabant monastic life from the past and the present. Visit (former) monasteries and abbeys, meet the monastics and even stay the night. Find out about centuries-old traditions and crafts, often reflected in monastery products, such as cheese, beer and wine.

From city to silence: a four-day cycling trip through North Brabant

A four-day cycling trip through North Brabant
From monastery gardens to drifting sand dunes: a 5-day motorhome road trip through the Van Gogh National Park

Roadtrip
Reflection and wonder on a two-day walking trail

Wonder
A weekend for slowing down in North Brabant

Slowing down

You can explore the Brabant monastic life on foot. Various short and long routes take you past religious heritage sites, vast country estates and stunning nature reserves.

- Brabant Monastery Trail: circular route Boekel and Handel
  Brabant Monastery Trail: circular route Boekel and Handel
  ( 1 hour 30 minutes ) 6.7 km
  
  Step into the world of the Broeders Penitenten (Penitent Brothers)
- Brabant Monastery Trail: circular tour Aarle-Rixtel
  Brabant Monastery Trail: circular tour Aarle-Rixtel
  ( 3 hour 32 minutes ) 15.5 km
  
  This 13-kilometre circular walk lets you discover the beautiful countryside around the Missionary Convent Holy Blood (Missieklooster Heilig Bloed)...
- Brabant Monastery Trail: circular tour Boxmeer
  Brabant Monastery Trail: circular tour Boxmeer
  ( 55 minutes ) 4.1 km
  
  The circular walk of 4.1 km takes you past places that tell the story of monastery life in Boxmeer, and past the beautiful embankments of the river...
- Brabant Monastery Trail: circular tour De Groote Heide
  Brabant Monastery Trail: circular tour De Groote Heide
  ( 2 hour 30 minutes ) 11.2 km
  
  This monastery walk will allow you to discover the beautiful countryside around the Achelse Kluis in Hamont-Achel in De Groote Heide heathland.
- Brabant Monastery Trail: circular tour Heeswijk-Dinther
  Brabant Monastery Trail: circular tour Heeswijk-Dinther
  ( 2 hour 20 minutes ) 10.4 km
  
  This 10.4 km circular walk revolves around the Berne Abbey, both literally and figuratively.
- Brabant Monastery Trail: circular tour Huijbergen
  Brabant Monastery Trail: circular tour Huijbergen
  ( 3 hour 7 minutes ) 14 km
  
  Walk through forests and dunes and discover the natural history of the Huijbergen monastery.
- Brabant Monastery Trail: circular tour Megen
  Brabant Monastery Trail: circular tour Megen
  ( 1 hour) 4.8 km
  
  The circular walk on this map lets you discover the beautiful countryside around the Poor Clares and Franciscan monastery in Megen.
- Brabant Monastery Trail: circular tour Oirschot
  Brabant Monastery Trail: circular tour Oirschot
  ( 2 hour 10 minutes ) 9.8 km
  
  Explore the Nazareth monastery and the Holy Oak pilgrimage place in Oirschot.
- Brabant Monastery Trail: circular tour Oosterhout
  Brabant Monastery Trail: circular tour Oosterhout
  ( 3 hour 11 minutes ) 14.3 km
  
  Combine the dynamics of the city with the quiet of the countryside on this walking route past three monastery complexes.
- Brabant Monastery Trail: circular tour Sint Agatha
  Brabant Monastery Trail: circular tour Sint Agatha
  ( 1 hour 40 minutes ) 7.6 km
  
  The oldest inhabited convent in the Netherlands
- Brabant Monastery Trail Stage 1: ‘s-Hertogenbosch - Heeswijk
  Brabant Monastery Trail Stage 1: ‘s-Hertogenbosch - Heeswijk
  ( 5 hour 20 minutes ) 22.5 km
  
  This walking route runs from city monastery San Damiano in 's-Hertogenbosch to the Abbey of Berne in Heeswijk.
- Brabant Monastery Trail Stage 2: Heeswijk - Uden
  Brabant Monastery Trail Stage 2: Heeswijk - Uden
  ( 3 hour 25 minutes ) 19 km
  
  This walking route runs from the Abbey of Berne in Heeswijk to Maria Refugie Abbey in Uden.
- Brabant Monastery Trail Stage 3: Uden - Megen
  Brabant Monastery Trail Stage 3: Uden - Megen
  Limited access
  
  ( 6 hour 15 minutes ) 28 km
  
  This walking route runs from Maria Refugie Abbey and Museum Krona in Uden to St Antonius of Padua Monastery in Megen.
- Brabant Monastery Trail Stage 4: Megen - Velp
  Brabant Monastery Trail Stage 4: Megen - Velp
  Limited access
  
  ( 4 hour 25 minutes ) 20 km
  
  This walking route runs from St Antony of Padua Monastery in Megen to the Emmaus Friary in Velp.
- Brabant Monastery Trail Stage 5: Velp - Sint Agatha
  Brabant Monastery Trail Stage 5: Velp - Sint Agatha
  ( 5 hour 45 minutes ) 26 km
  
  This walking route runs from Emmaus Friary in Velp to the Monastery of Saint Agatha.
- Brabant Monastery Trail Stage 6: Sint Agatha - Boxmeer
  Brabant Monastery Trail Stage 6: Sint Agatha - Boxmeer
  ( 4 hour) 18 km
  
  This walking route runs from the Monastery of Saint Agatha to the Carmelite Monastery in Boxmeer.
- Brabant Monastery Trail Stage 7: Boxmeer – Boekel
  Brabant Monastery Trail Stage 7: Boxmeer – Boekel
  ( 6 hour 25 minutes ) 29 km
  
  This walking route runs from the Carmelite Monastery in Boxmeer to Huize Padua in Boekel.
- Brabant Monastery Trail Stage 8: Boekel – Aarle Rixtel
  Brabant Monastery Trail Stage 8: Boekel – Aarle Rixtel
  ( 5 hour) 22.5 km
  
  This route takes you from Huize Padua and museum De Kluis in Boekel to Missionary Convent Heilig Bloed in Aarle Rixtel.
- Brabant Monastery Trail Stage 9: Aarle Rixtel - Eindhoven
  Brabant Monastery Trail Stage 9: Aarle Rixtel - Eindhoven
  ( 6 hour 20 minutes ) 28.5 km
  
  This walking route takes you from Missionary Convent Heilig Bloed in Aarle Rixtel to former monastery Mariënhage in Eindhoven.
- Brabant Monastery Trail Stage 10: Eindhoven – Vessem
  Brabant Monastery Trail Stage 10: Eindhoven – Vessem
  ( 4 hour 53 minutes ) 22 km
  
  This walking route takes you from Mariënhage Monastery in Eindhoven to Pilgrim's Hostel Kafarnaüm in Vessem.

- Op de Knip
  Op de Knip
  The place where passing cyclists use to stop at a large wooden picnic table has been the location of the cosy, charming Op de Knip since May 2023....
  Plan your route
- The Kriekeput
  The Kriekeput
  (Nature Gate) De Kriekeput is located in the Herperduin nature reserve. We offer a cozy eatery, a hall, a swimming pool, a terrace, and an outdoor...
  Plan your route
- Schaapskooi Schijndel
  Schaapskooi Schijndel
  Almost every week, Schaapskooi hosts fun, educational, social, and/or unique activities.
  Plan your route
- Herberg de Brabantse Kluis
  Herberg de Brabantse Kluis
  Have you always wanted to enjoy Heavenly and Earthly dishes between cows and Missionary Sisters? Herberg de Brabantse Kluis is the atmospheric surp...
  Plan your route
- Lunchcafé Toren4
  Lunchcafé Toren4
  Located in the village centre of Sint-Michielsgestel, just five kilometres from the historic city centre of 's-Hertogenbosch, bicycle and lunch caf...
  Plan your route
- Botanical garden Oudenbosch Arboretum
  Botanical garden Oudenbosch Arboretum
  You can find this wonderful botanical garden - about 2700 interesting trees and plants - directly opposite the HH Agatha et Barbara Basilica, which...
  Plan your route
- Megen
  Megen
  The typical fortified town of Megen is a must for anyone interested in religious heritage.
  Plan your route
- Op de Knip
  Op de Knip
  The place where passing cyclists use to stop at a large wooden picnic table has been the location of the cosy, charming Op de Knip since May 2023....
  Plan your route
- Het Voorhuis Guesthouse
  Het Voorhuis Guesthouse
  Pretend you're in Italy watching the sun setting over the fields, while you're sitting at a long table, enjoying a delicious dinner with ingredient...
  Plan your route
- Oudenbosch Basilica
  Oudenbosch Basilica
  ‘You don’t know whether you're in the Netherlands or in Rome. Truly impressive,’ declared one surprised visitor to Oudenbosch Basilica.
  Plan your route
- The Kriekeput
  The Kriekeput
  (Nature Gate) De Kriekeput is located in the Herperduin nature reserve. We offer a cozy eatery, a hall, a swimming pool, a terrace, and an outdoor...
  Plan your route
- Schaapskooi Schijndel
  Schaapskooi Schijndel
  Almost every week, Schaapskooi hosts fun, educational, social, and/or unique activities.
  Plan your route
- Kloosterhotel Zin
  Kloosterhotel Zin
  In 1902, the Brothers of Tilburg purchased Huize Steenwijk at Boxtelseweg 58-60 in Vught to establish a retirement home for elderly and infirm brot...
  Plan your route
- Lunchcafé Toren4
  Lunchcafé Toren4
  Located in the village centre of Sint-Michielsgestel, just five kilometres from the historic city centre of 's-Hertogenbosch, bicycle and lunch caf...
  Plan your route
- Kafarnaüm Pilgrims’ Hostel
  Kafarnaüm Pilgrims’ Hostel
  The Pilgrims’ Hostel is located just behind the church in Vessem. Since the late 1970s, the farmhouse had served as a friary for several brothers o...
  Plan your route
- Het Voorhuis Guesthouse
  Het Voorhuis Guesthouse
  Pretend you're in Italy watching the sun setting over the fields, while you're sitting at a long table, enjoying a delicious dinner with ingredient...
  Plan your route
- Schaapskooi Schijndel
  Schaapskooi Schijndel
  Almost every week, Schaapskooi hosts fun, educational, social, and/or unique activities.
  Plan your route
- Kloosterhotel Zin
  Kloosterhotel Zin
  In 1902, the Brothers of Tilburg purchased Huize Steenwijk at Boxtelseweg 58-60 in Vught to establish a retirement home for elderly and infirm brot...
  Plan your route
- Herberg de Brabantse Kluis
  Herberg de Brabantse Kluis
  Have you always wanted to enjoy Heavenly and Earthly dishes between cows and Missionary Sisters? Herberg de Brabantse Kluis is the atmospheric surp...
  Plan your route
- Hotel Mariënhage
  Hotel Mariënhage
  Enjoy luxury and design in the four-star Boutique Hotel Mariënhage, a former monastery in the heart of Eindhoven. Relax in the garden, savour top-c...
  Plan your route