Chaam woods trade route: Robbers | Border Stories

This varied route, 52 kilometres long, takes you straight through the Chaam woods, where the green feels infinite. Take a break at the charming Ginnekenmarkt or sample the past at De Hooikar cafe in Gilze. Follow the route through Breda’s agricultural hinterland and explore the charming village of Bavel. This route will allow you to experience the story of the robbers on this historic trade route. Take a look at the merchants’ route here.

Explore the robbers’ story 
The cycling tour that you will be following goes along a path that is now called the Fietsallee or Bicycle Avenue. This used to be the Maastrichtse Baan – a trade route between Breda and Maastricht on a sandy road that was a kilometre wide at times. The route was both famous and infamous. Will you cycle along with us?

October 1646 - Cornelis Smit raises his head. His temples throb. He has just woken up, although evening is falling. Cornelis lives at night. He has no home. After fighting in yet another war, he lost everything. No money, no possessions. Just the clothes on his back.

In desperation, Cornelis roams through the Barony of Breda, the place of his birth. He stops along the way to beg at an inn, its lights emitting an inviting, warm glow. But ... who’s that? He recognises one of the guests to be his old comrade in arms Jan. They get to talking. And ... you know what? Jan has a solution to Cornelis’s poverty. 

An important trade route runs through this area, between Breda and Maastricht. Merchants load wooden horse carts with their valuable goods, such as sugar, spices, cheese, herring, wood, cotton and munition, at the Ginnekenmarkt in Breda. They use the Duivelsbrug (Devil’s Bridge) to cross the Mark river and head south. It is a long and dangerous trip, which makes them possible victims. Especially if they do not have a waybill that is correct and has been signed by a lord. Then there is no protection by any authorities. The route that is to come – at that time, up until Alphen, in any case – runs through extensive areas of drifting sand and heathland. That means that the merchants have little cover when travelling between two places to rest. And it is when they are tired, says Jan, that we attack.

Cornelis decides to go raiding with Jan. His conscience does not bother him at all. The wars that he fought in have only left him confused, making compassion for his fellow man a feeling that is alien to him now. He is so desperate that he is capable of doing anything. And those merchants, the rich bastards, are more than able to give a little something to a poor man like himself.

So, off they go, the very next day. In addition to Cornelis, two other mates of Jan join them. They look rather dangerous with their black clothes, scowls and blackened faces. They have most certainly earned their popular nickname ‘Zwartmakers’, so called because they blacken their faces. They carry knives and sticks as weapons. But watch out! Jan knows from experience that the merchants might be prepared as well. They usually travel in convoy, with a group of travellers together. And they pay for protection by the infamous ‘Haeneveren’, mercenaries of a shady sort, recognisable by the cock's feather on their hoods.

So as not to stick out too much, Jan and his gang travel on foot. In Gilze, near Alphen, there is ‘De Hooikar’, an inn where many merchants rest overnight and pay toll – at least, they pay toll if they travel along the paved road between Gilze and Baarle-Nassau. They don’t pay if they take this sandy road with the expected pot-holes here and there.

The robbers pass the Geuzenpad. In the twilight they see a preacher, together with a few members of his congregations, travelling from Gilze to Chaam. The sight of the preacher causes Cornelis, who is tired, to think twice. Will he be punished by God for what he is planning to do? He pushes the thought aside and speeds up.

Damn that Chaamse Beken nature reserve! The robbers cannot go further without crossing small bodies of water. They each find a long stick, go to a stream and make a running jump. Everyone makes it to the other side – except for Cornelis, who tumbles backwards into the water. Wet clothes – what else can go wrong? It’s already so cold and rainy tonight.

Greed hangs in the air. That’s how it feels, at any rate. The infamous Adriaan van Campen hangs around here too. He steals through the night with his faded shirt, shoulder-length hair and faded hat on his head. Do you see him there ahead of you? Van Campen is on his way to Carel, a farmer with a huge farm near Bavel. Adriaan has been blackmailing Carel for a while now but has little to show for it so far. Well, if he won’t listen, he’ll have to pay for it. This evening, Van Campen pounds on the doors and windows of the farm, shouting: ‘Open up, we’re here!’ Adriaan is by himself but, by speaking in plural, the farmer behind the closed door gets the fright of his life ….

The gang of robbers lie in wait at the Eiken Mik, a huge tree in the centre of the road. At this point of their journey, the merchants are most likely pretty tired: they have already travelled many kilometres, having started off from Ginneken district in Breda.

Hooves sound in the distance – the convoy is approaching. Will Cornelis, Jan and the other robbers succeed in stealing the precious goods? Cycle from Alpen to Breda and explore the landscape of this exciting history!

Border Stories
Border stories demonstrate the versatility of the region of North Brabant in a unique manner. North Brabant is located on the border of the Netherlands and Belgium and between the provinces of Limburg, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland and Gelderland. The border has a rich history with stories about smugglers, closed borders and borderless collaborations. There is a reason why this border has always played an important role in the life of the people of Brabant. Experience routes that have been developed with this theme tell the story of the Brabant border and the unlimited nature of the region. View them all via visitbrabant.com/en.  

Grensland De Baronie, wonderful natural land
Grensland De Baronie is the green heart between the cities of Breda, Tilburg and the Belgian border. This region used to be called the ‘playground of the nobility’ who amused themselves here on their estates. Now it is a region where you can stop to catch your breath, out here in the countryside, where it is very green. You will be welcomed by our people with open arms. Whether on your bicycle, on foot or on horse, you will discover places you have never seen before. The exciting history of this area will astonish you. Grensland De Baronie is a wonderful natural land where you can get lost in unique stories.