Van Gogh cycle route Zundert – Northeast
Discover the roots of Vincent’s personality and artistic calling
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Vincent van Gogh was born in Zundert on 30 March 1853. The old parsonage of the Dutch Reformed Church stood on the site of the Vincent van Gogh House. Vincent lived here until he was sixteen. Get on a bike and discover the roots of Vincent’s personality and artistic calling.
This Van Gogh cycle route first introduces you to the six Van Gogh Monuments in Zundert. You cycle through picturesque countryside, via the Markdal valley, past the River Mark towards Breda, and then past several hamlets towards Etten-Leur. This route does not go straight through the city centre. You can of course consider following the Van Gogh cycle route to Etten-Leur or Breda.
On the way back to Zundert, you enter the Pannenhoef na…
Vincent van Gogh was born in Zundert on 30 March 1853. The old parsonage of the Dutch Reformed Church stood on the site of the Vincent van Gogh House. Vincent lived here until he was sixteen. Get on a bike and discover the roots of Vincent’s personality and artistic calling.
This Van Gogh cycle route first introduces you to the six Van Gogh Monuments in Zundert. You cycle through picturesque countryside, via the Markdal valley, past the River Mark towards Breda, and then past several hamlets towards Etten-Leur. This route does not go straight through the city centre. You can of course consider following the Van Gogh cycle route to Etten-Leur or Breda.
On the way back to Zundert, you enter the Pannenhoef nature reserve, where eleven dried-up fens have been excavated and brought back to life. They bear historic names reflecting the natural features of the landscape, such as ‘de Flesch’, ‘Hazemerenven’, ‘de Lokker’ and ‘de Bak’. This is unspoiled countryside, just as Vincent must have seen it. There are informative audio columns in the centre of Zundert (next to the Van Gogh House and the church) and in the Pannenhoef (next to De Zwarte Schuur visitor centre and outdoor classroom).
Tread in the footsteps of Van Gogh’s childhood
Vincent was not born in the current Van Gogh House but next door, in what used to be the parsonage, on 30 March 1853. The building was demolished in 1903. A plaque on the house’s facade commemorates his birth. It is on this site that the Vincent van Gogh House was created by combining two distinctive buildings: the ‘new’ parsonage and the characteristic rectory. Vincent grew up here together with his brothers and sisters. The Vincent van Gogh House offers a stimulating presentation of the life and work of Vincent van Gogh and interactive learning experiences. Listen to the story of Vincent van Gogh’s childhood at the informative audio column. You will also find another audio column a little further along at the Dutch Reformed Church.
This cycle route takes you past the Mastbos near Breda, one of the oldest cultivated forests in the Netherlands. It provided wood for the Spanish Armada and later for the masts of Dutch East India Company (VOC) ships. It is now an impressive area for walking, filled with ancient trees and stately avenues.
Further along the route, you go past the Pannenhoef, a stunning nature reserve covering approximately 706 hectares, located between the municipalities of Zundert, Etten-Leur and Rucphen. The area used to be known for its peat excavation. Households and beer breweries used the peat for fuel. The oldest Scots pines are around 200 years old, so they were here in Van Gogh’s day. Vincent van Gogh was a fervent nature lover and regularly walked through this area. He wrote extensively about it in his letters. De Zwarte Schuur visitor centre and outdoor classroom is a remnant of the impressive farm in the middle of the Pannenhoef Estate. Take note of the old pump and the bakehouse, where a family of foresters used to live. You can listen to the story of Van Gogh and thePannenhoef at the audio column behind De Zwarte Schuur.
On Van Gogh Square, behind the Van Gogh House, there is an exceptional work of art. Made by Ossip Zadkine, it was unveiled by Queen Juliana in 1964. It depicts Vincent with his brother, Theo. They are intimately entwined. You may ask: which one is Vincent? The answer is neither of the two. The creator of this work of art has never divulged that information. The statue merely portrays their inseparable bond. Listen to the story of Vincent van Gogh’s childhood at the audio column.
At intersection 50, you will find the Bisschopsmolen, a watermill in Etten, built in 1744. It functioned as a grain mill until 1959. During his Brabant period, Vincent made numerous drawings of the mills and watermills. It is likely that he drew De Weltevreden windmill on Roosendaalseweg, Etten-Leur, in the spring of 1881 (it was demolished in 1974).
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.
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Signposting Van Gogh Cycle Route
Follow the signs with 'Van Gogh Route'. These are placed underneath the regular junction signs.
Signposting Van Gogh Cycle Route
Follow the signs with 'Van Gogh Route'. These are placed underneath the regular junction signs.
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Hotline routes
Hotline routesIf there is something wrong on the route, report it here.
Tips from Brabant residents
Skip map elementsLocations on this route
Vincent van GoghHuis
The Vincent van GoghHuis: a living arts centre in the birthplace of Brabant’s most famous artist ever, stands on the spot where Vincent van Gogh came into the world on 30 March 1853.
Markt 264881 CN Zundert
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Aunts’ House, Markt 25 Zundert
The Van de Burgh sisters, Vincent van Gogh’s godmothers, lived at Markt 25.
Protestant church, cemetery and 'Ropsentuin'
The first child of Vincent van Gogh’s parents was born, but it was not viable. It was buried at this Protestant church.
Kosterswoning
This Kosterswoning, a former old house, was purchased on the recommendation of Reverend Van Gogh by the Dutch Reformed Congregation in 1863.
Van Gogh Brothers Monument
This monument was unveiled in 1964 by Queen Juliana. It was created by Ossip Zadkine and was donated by the bankers Van Landschot.
Mastbos
The Mastbos was built more than 500 years ago by Hendrik III van Nassau. It is a mixed forest where beech avenues, vast heaths, dark coniferous and beautiful fens alternate.
Old Town Hall Etten-Leur
The old council offices (also known as the Meeting Centre) was the former town hall of Etten-Leur. It was here that Vincent van Gogh first registered himself as an artist.
Site of the vicarage with Vincent’s first studio.
Vincent van Gogh had his first studio in the vicarage in Etten-Leur. The actual building is no longer there but a statue marks the spot.
Van Gogh Church
Located in the centre of Etten-Leur, the Van Gogh Church offers a fascinating glimpse into what is probably the least known period in Vincent van Gogh’s life, but certainly not the least important! In Etten (1881) Vincent decided to become an artist!
Lambertus Church Etten-Leur
Vincent van Gogh made various sketches and drawings which show the Lambertus Church.
Trouwkerkje / Wedding Church Etten-Leur
The Dutch Reformed Church in Leur (Etten-Leur North) dates from 1614 and is a national monument.
De Menmoerhoeve
At De Menmoerhoeve campsite, restaurant and activity farm, you can enjoy everything the countryside has to offer. If there’s anywhere you can literally immerse yourself in the Brabant farming life, it’s at this recreational farm.
Nature reserve de Pannenhoef
Woodland, pools and flower-filled meadows are typical of de Pannenhoef , a beautiful nature reserve between Etten-Leur, Zundert, Rijsbergen and Sprundel, and with an area of no less than 706 hectares.
De Moeren Nature Reserve
De Moeren Nature Reserve is west of Zundert. It has forests, meadows, agricultural fields, fens and pools.
Vincent van GoghHuis
The Vincent van GoghHuis: a living arts centre in the birthplace of Brabant’s most famous artist ever, stands on the spot where Vincent van Gogh came into the world on 30 March 1853.
Markt 264881 CN Zundert
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