The Free State of the Land of Ravenstein
The Land of Ravenstein consists of the current municipalities of Boekel, Maashorst and Oss. Get on your bicycle and become acquainted with this beautiful region. Discover unique locations in the Brabant countryside with its woods and heathlands.
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The Land of Ravenstein consists of the current municipalities of Boekel, Maashorst and Oss. Get on your bicycle and become acquainted with this beautiful region. Discover unique locations in the Brabant countryside with its woods and heathlands in the Maashorst. Cycle over winding dykes along the Maas and look out over the vast polders and floodplains. Visit the attractive medieval cities or town centres and settle down on a charming terrace. The ten discovery trips allow you to become acquainted with the beauty in this area. You cycle past many monasteries, churches and chapels, with the opportunity of stopping in at Museum Krona in Uden or staying in the great outdoors. Something for everyone!
Explore the county(side)
During the ten exploratory journeys, you visit al…
The Land of Ravenstein consists of the current municipalities of Boekel, Maashorst and Oss. Get on your bicycle and become acquainted with this beautiful region. Discover unique locations in the Brabant countryside with its woods and heathlands in the Maashorst. Cycle over winding dykes along the Maas and look out over the vast polders and floodplains. Visit the attractive medieval cities or town centres and settle down on a charming terrace. The ten discovery trips allow you to become acquainted with the beauty in this area. You cycle past many monasteries, churches and chapels, with the opportunity of stopping in at Museum Krona in Uden or staying in the great outdoors. Something for everyone!
Explore the county(side)
During the ten exploratory journeys, you visit all the cities and villages of the Land of Ravenstein, the adjoining county Megen and the surrounding areas. You can simply follow the routes and enjoy all the beauty, or you can study the history and culture of this region. To do so, download the interactive “Free State of the Land of Ravenstein” app and click on the places of interest that are given on the cycle routes. Discover more about everything that has taken place in this area.
Cycle through a cultural treasure
The ten cycle routes transport you through the history of the Land of Ravenstein. The Land of Ravenstein has a special history because, from 1360 to 1795, it was a sovereign country where religious freedom ruled. Catholic monastic orders that were driven off by the Dutch after the treaty of Munster in 1648 found a safe haven in the Land of Ravenstein as well as in the adjoining county Megen. This unique history has provided an incredible wealth of cultural, religious and monumental heritage in a country that has also been royally endowed with areas of magnificent natural beauty.
How do these discovery trips work?
Get on your bicycle and become acquainted with this special piece of country! Are you able to earn the passport by cycling all of the routes? Or are you only visiting the Land of Ravenstein for a short while? The route forms for all ten of the discovery trips and the day pass (one free cycle route) can be obtained from the Tourist Information Centres in Oss, Megen, Ravenstein or Uden. The folder with all ten discovery trips costs € 14.95.
Collecting letters
Each journey has a name that is linked with the history of the Land of Ravenstein. It is up to you to figure it out by collecting letters. These letters can be found on the coats of arms at monuments and catering locations along the route. The locations of the letters are given on the route forms. Take a picture of the letter or write it down.
Let’s get going!
If you have done all ten journeys, then get started with the letters that you have collected. In other words, start solving the puzzle! If you have figured out the answer and think you have earned the passport, stop in at the stamping point, which is also the head office of the Land of Ravenstein (Sint Luciastraat 2, Ravenstein), and anxiously wait to see if you will be granted access to this country.
Route information
The route, which makes use of the numbered junction network, is 27 km long in total in the area around Ravenstein. The route starts and ends at winehouse Lodewijk Napoleon (Marktstraat, Ravenstein). Here you can park your car and get on your bike.
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Signposting
Follow these signs and easily cycle the route from one numbered junction to the next.
Signposting
Follow these signs and easily cycle the route from one numbered junction to the next.
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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
Lodewijk Napoleon Winery
Lodewijk Napoleon Winery. The most prestigious winery in the Land van Ravenstein.
Marktstraat 155371 AC Ravenstein
Navigate to starting point
Hotel De Keurvorst
The hotel, café and restaurant ‘De Keursvorst’ has been an easy-to-reach meeting place in the idyllic centre of Ravenstein for hundreds of years.
St. Lucia Church - Ravenstein
St. Lucia Church is the only Baroque parish church in the Netherlands.
Town Hall
The house served as a notary’s office and was used as a residence until the middle of the last century, after which it served as the town hall until Ravenstein merged with the municipality of Oss in 2003.
Mill De Nijverheid
Mill De Nijverheid is built on the old fortifications of Ravenstein and is the tallest post mill in our country.
Philips van Kleef Bolwerck
The Philips van Kleefbolwerck is part of the fortifications that Philips van Kleef, Lord of Ravenstein, had built in 1509.
't Tuureind Farm
't Tuureind Farm is a family-run business that grows fruits and vegetables.
St. Anne’s Chapel in Koolwijk
A historic chapel dedicated to St. Anne, located in Koolwijk, in the municipality of Oss.
Farmer Bens
To help you enjoy a fun day here, they organize activities such as farmer’s golf, children’s parties, and covered wagon rides.
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 pirate ship playground.
't Mun Sundial
A monument was erected in 2003 to mark the 750th anniversary of 't Mun.
Charme Camping Hartje Groen & De Boshut
Nestled in the woods, in the heart of De Maashorst, the largest contiguous nature reserve in Brabant, is Charme Camping Hartje Groen & De Boshut.
Café De Potter
This “traditional pub” offers plenty to enjoy: having a drink with friends, listening to a variety of music, and watching a soccer game together.
Farmers' Union Building
The union building, which opened in 1910, was two stories high.
Hertogswetering
The Hertogswetering is a watercourse between Grave and the Gewanden Pumping Station on the border between the municipalities of Oss and 's-Hertogenbosch.
Erfdijk
The Erfdijk is a small, winding dike that once protected the village of Herpen from the waters of the Meuse River flowing in from the southeast. The Erfdijk was constructed around 1300, making it one of the first dikes in the Meuse region.
St. Sebastian Church
St. Sebastian Church is a Roman Catholic church in the Dutch town of Herpen.
End point:
Waypoint bike 18
Oss
Navigate to endpoint
- 18
- 42
- 16
- 17
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- 34
- 01
- 24
- 25
- 60
- 62
- 59
- 61
- 18
Route features
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A long weekend of surprises in the heart of Brabant
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5 times UNESCO in North Brabant
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Slow travel along the best parts of the Land van de Peel
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