Vincent van Gogh, one of the world’s most famous artists was born and bred in Brabant (Zundert 1853). Although Vincent was a great lover of nature and the Brabant countryside, he also loved the dynamism and the distractions of the big city, and he thought that Paris was wonderful. Vincent had visited Tilburg and Breda (Princenhage) in his youth, either while he was at school or when visiting family.
This 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 cities which takes you past woodland, heathland, ponds, country estates and pastures. It is typical of the surroundings from which Van Gogh took his inspiration.
Vincent van Gogh’s g…
Vincent van Gogh, one of the world’s most famous artists was born and bred in Brabant (Zundert 1853). Although Vincent was a great lover of nature and the Brabant countryside, he also loved the dynamism and the distractions of the big city, and he thought that Paris was wonderful. Vincent had visited Tilburg and Breda (Princenhage) in his youth, either while he was at school or when visiting family.
This 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 cities which takes you past woodland, heathland, ponds, country estates and pastures. It is typical of the surroundings from which Van Gogh took his inspiration.
Vincent van Gogh’s grandfather, who was also called Vincent, was the preacher at the Grote Kerk church in Breda, the starting point of this cycle route, for more than thirty years (1822-1853). Vincent made just one drawing of his grandfather. Vincent van Gogh also had an uncle with the same first name who had a good reputation in the art world and lived in a beautiful villa in Princenhage for many years. He had a substantial art collection in ‘Huize Mertersem’. Vincent went there often during the time he was living in Etten.
Grandfather Van Gogh died in 1874 and ‘Uncle Cent’ in 1888. Their graves can be visited in the Haagveld Protestant Cemetery in the Haagweg. You cycle along the road to the Princenhage part of the town. There are informative audio columns at the Grote Kerk church, the villa and the cemetery.
How does the Van Gogh cycle route work?
The Van Gogh cycle route forms part of the cycle route network in Brabant. There is a Van Gogh cycle route sign at every intersection. Follow the Van Gogh cycle route signs from one numbered intersection to the other. Follow the cycle route network signs between the intersections. Ten short routes in the form of loops have been marked out. The routes are joined together by linking sections.
