Audio fragment: The golden land

This audio fragment is part of the Textielroute Land van de Peel. View the route at visitbrabant.com/landvandepeeltextileroutemadeinbrabant.

[Uncle Kees]: 'This is the Golden Land. There used to be a castle here. Close your eyes for a moment. Can you imagine it?'

[Anton]: 'Yes, certainly.'

[Uncle Kees]: 'This castle was called: The Golden House.'It was one of the many castles and country houses in this area. Here lived all sorts of high ladies and gentlemen from Aarle-Rixtel. Later, it came into the possession of the Helmond textile manufacturer Bots. In the attic of the castle, there was even a small cotton spinning mill.'

[Anton]: 'How special! But where is the castle now?'

[Uncle Kees]: 'When the canal came, the castle was cut off from the village. The canal ran right thru the driveway! The castle fell into increasing disrepair over the following fifty years. Until the castle was demolished, about 140 years ago.'

[Anton]: 'What a shame! On the other hand: you now have a vast nature reserve here, surrounded by water.'

[Uncle Kees]: 'Exactly. The area still has an important function, although the focus is now somewhat different than before. It rains more and more often and harder, and that water can't drain properly. This area provides natural drainage. There are also fewer and fewer different plants, animals, and insects. In the Golden Land, they have the space. That makes this area so special, I think. When I stand here, I see a direct connection with the industrial past, the present, and the future.'