Myths and legends live on in Brabant. The Black Kaat cycle route is a 36-kilometre route in the vicinity of the town of Bladel, that lets you hunt a legend. Feel her breath in the wind, hear her squeaky voice in the woods, get to know her character and immerse yourself in her conquests!
Black Kaat, the legend of De Kempen
Black Kaat, the Witch of Hell’s End, plundered farms and churches with her accomplices at the end of the sixteenth century. Her gang also ambushed travelling salesmen. Nobody was safe in these parts. With hair as black as a raven and an ugly crooked nose, she left behind her a trail of destruction. Anything she captured she d…
Myths and legends live on in Brabant. The Black Kaat cycle route is a 36-kilometre route in the vicinity of the town of Bladel, that lets you hunt a legend. Feel her breath in the wind, hear her squeaky voice in the woods, get to know her character and immerse yourself in her conquests!
Black Kaat, the legend of De Kempen
Black Kaat, the Witch of Hell’s End, plundered farms and churches with her accomplices at the end of the sixteenth century. Her gang also ambushed travelling salesmen. Nobody was safe in these parts. With hair as black as a raven and an ugly crooked nose, she left behind her a trail of destruction. Anything she captured she devoured, helped by her husband Bruno and the members of her gang. It gave them the strength each time to go on yet another successful night-time raid. Often the plans for the raid were hatched in the deepest secrecy at the watermill, close to Ten Vorsel farm. The historic avenue lined with beech trees close to the farm is a silent witness to these raids.
One day Black Kaat crept along the beech avenue to Ten Vorsel farmhouse in the middle of the woods in order to steal an unusual newborn. Baby Thomas had been born with a veil; the boy was brought into this world with the caul membrane, or helmet, covering his head. That was supposed to mean that Thomas could see into the future and bring good luck. Anyone who baptised him within one day would acquire that luck. So Black Kaat stole the charmed Thomas and took him away. That night she baptised the child as her own son in Postel Abbey.
Thomas Ten Vorsel proved to be a blessing. Black Kaat was rewarded with two periods of seven holy years. Then the tide turned and brought with it an end to her salvation. She didn’t need Thomas anymore as he no longer brought her any luck. Thankfully, Thomas was able to escape to Postel Abbey, just in time to warn the friendly monks of the brutal robbery his ‘mother’ was planning.
Meanwhile Black Kaat visited the abbey, supposedly to drink a pint of beer, unaware that an army had been warned and were on their way. She was trapped. The planned theft of valuable gold coins failed and all the members of the gang were hanged from the abbey gates.
Miraculously Black Kaat was able to escape and took refuge under a fallen tree. As though the devil had played his part, the surrounding trees were struck by lightning. What remained was a large circle with Black Kaat in the middle. Betrayed by the fire, the villain was caught, beheaded, and buried well away from the consecrated ground in the village; without a cross, on the heath and under a branch. The barley beer then flowed freely, batter was cooked, and to this day the people of the Kempen treat themselves to beer, pancakes, ice cream and chocolate. Finally, everyone was rid of the black evil. At least, that’s what they thought.
Black Kaat is alive! Her former headquarters on the Helleneind in Bladel bear witness to this. The witch of Hell’s End never went away. She is deeply rooted in the Kempen woods. It seems she is buried under the craggy Witch Tree that was once that small branch, on the Ten Vorsel Estate.
Allow yourself to be ambushed by Black Kaat and enjoy the legends that have been told in the Kempen for generations. But be wary of her sweet seduction. After all she is, and always will be, merciless and she has many faces. You need to have known her history; rough and without a shadow of remorse. According to some insiders, her influence ranged wider than many think. Take a moment, listen, and feel her presence. Feel her breath in the wind, hear her squeaky voice in the woods, get to know her character and immerse yourself in her conquests!
Route information
The route, which makes use of the numbered junction network, is 36 km long in total and passes through the village of Bladel. You will also encounter the villages of Reusel, and Postel in Belgium. The route starts at Recreatiepark Achterste Hoef (adress: Troprijt 10, Bladel) where you can park your car and get a bite to eat or go to the toilet if needed.
Need to recover from the shock?
After all this excitement you can relax with the delicious Black Kaat treats that have been developed by various local entrepreneurs. How about some Black Kaat beer, cheese, ice cream or chocolates?
Black Kaat beer - Brouwerij de Bolle Brouwketel
Black Kaat chocolates - De Chocolage
Black Kaat ice cream - IJsboerderij Fabor
Black Kaat cheese - De Hooiberg
Walking route
Did you know that we also have a walking route dedicated to the Witch Tree?
