Oisterwijk Leather Route | Made in Brabant
Ride along with delivery boy Rien and explore the leather industry in Oisterwijk on this 27-kilometre cycle route.
Starting point: from your location
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Explore the site of the Royal United Leather Factory (Leerfabriek KVL) in Oisterwijk with Rien. Then cycle with him via this picturesque village to the stunning rural area around Haaren and Moergestel. Along the way, Rien will tell you all about his job as a delivery boy for the leather factory, as well as about his dreams and aspirations.
This 27-kilometre route takes you past places that reveal more about the rich history of the leather industry. Enjoy the beautiful, calming countryside of the Oisterwijkse Forest & Fens, the babbling sound of the Essche Stroom (river) and the fairytale Nemerlaer Castle. Cycle past Schoenfabriek Van Bommel (shoe factory) and turn around at the shops and hospitality venues at De Lind to return to the KVL site.
Would you like to know more about the Royal United Leather Factory’s past? Book a guided tour and discover the history of this exceptional place.
Made in Brabant routes
Brabant: the…
Explore the site of the Royal United Leather Factory (Leerfabriek KVL) in Oisterwijk with Rien. Then cycle with him via this picturesque village to the stunning rural area around Haaren and Moergestel. Along the way, Rien will tell you all about his job as a delivery boy for the leather factory, as well as about his dreams and aspirations.
This 27-kilometre route takes you past places that reveal more about the rich history of the leather industry. Enjoy the beautiful, calming countryside of the Oisterwijkse Forest & Fens, the babbling sound of the Essche Stroom (river) and the fairytale Nemerlaer Castle. Cycle past Schoenfabriek Van Bommel (shoe factory) and turn around at the shops and hospitality venues at De Lind to return to the KVL site.
Would you like to know more about the Royal United Leather Factory’s past? Book a guided tour and discover the history of this exceptional place.
Made in Brabant routes
Brabant: the creative engine of the Netherlands. No less than 24% of the Dutch manufacturing industry production is still made in Brabant. Old crafts, industrial heritage but also innovative companies can be found in many places in the province, each with their own exceptional story. From old crafts such as tanning leather to brewing beer to the large multinationals and smaller creative businesses: Brabant has them all. We combine beautiful countryside with (old) industries and characteristic Brabant cycling and walking routes.
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Signposting
Simply follow the signs and cycle along the route from one numbered junction to the next.
Signposting
Simply follow the signs and cycle along 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.
Sights on this route
Leather Factory KVL
Leather Factory KVL has been transformed into a trendy hotspot! With various restaurants and unique organizations, there’s always something happening at KVL!
Starting point:
Leerfabriek KVLAlmystraat 14
5061PA Oisterwijk
Navigate to starting point
Audio fragment: Errand boy for the KVL factory
This audio fragment is part of the Oisterwijk Leather Route.
Starting point:
Almijstraat 145061 PA Oisterwijk
Audio fragment: Errand boy for the KVL factory
“Hello! My name is Rien. It is nice that you will be coming with me today. Let me show you the factory site first.
“As an errand boy, you go everywhere. You even go to the director. But when the red light by the room of director Adler is turned on ... access is prohibited. No one knows why.
I’ve heard that there’s a small room with tiles with exciting pictures of a man and a woman ...”
“It’s hard work at the factory. But the factory does a lot for us. At the end of the year, there’s a factory party with a lottery. I won a woollen blanket once! Our mother was very happy with that! First prize was a house worth 3000 guilders! That would have been even better. Our rental house is pretty small for all of us. But the neighbourhood is great!”
“Come on, let’s go for a bicycle ride. Being an errand boy consists of a lot of cycling in the area, haha. We have to bring samples of leather to the shoe factory Schoenfabriek Van Bommel. But I want to take a detour. We’ll just go past my house. And then I will show you some other beautiful places!”
Audio fragment: Errand boy for the KVL factory
This audio fragment is part of the Oisterwijk Leather Route.
Workers' Houses on Akkerstraat
The KVL leather factory paid great attention to the well-being of its workers, including housing.
Starting point:
Akkerstraat 55061 DD Oisterwijk
Nemelaer Castle
Nemerlaer Castle was first mentioned in the archives in 1303; named after the small river 'de Nemer' and 'Laer', an open space in the forest.
Starting point:
Kasteellaan 25076 RE Haaren
Audio fragment: Nemerlaer Castle
This audio fragment is part of the Oisterwijk Leather Route.
Starting point:
Kasteellaan 6-25076 RC Haaren
Audio fragment: Nemerlaer Castle
“Look, this is Nemerlaer Castle. It’s been empty for years. That’s a shame, isn’t it? A nobleman used to live here, but he had an argument with his family. His will said that the castle had to be uninhabited for 70 years after he died. That's now 60 years ago already. ... I can see myself living here in about ten years. And then, just like the nobleman, with good food and wine.”
“The Essche Stroom is near by. The area is beautiful, but the water is polluted by the waste water from the leather factory. I hope they will clean the river up sometime. As it is now, I wouldn’t swim in it. I like to swim in the Staalbergven.
I did that not too long ago, on a hot day, sneaking out to swim for an hour or so. During working hours. But my boss found out. He took 2 guilders from my wages! You know we only earn 3.50 a day ...”
“Come on, let’s cycle to Van Bommel!”
Audio fragment: Nemerlaer Castle
This audio fragment is part of the Oisterwijk Leather Route.
Essche Stream
As the name might suggest, the Essche Stream is named after the Brabant village of Esch.
Starting point:
NemelaerwegOisterwijk
Oisterwijk's Forests & Fens
A different experience in every season: Oisterwijk's Forests & Fens are exquisite, tranquil and inspiring all year round.
Starting point:
Van Tienhovenlaan 45062 SK Oisterwijk
Audio fragment: shoe factory Van Bommel
This audio fragment is part of the Oisterwijk Leather Route.
Starting point:
Oisterwijkseweg 405066 XC Moergestel
Audio fragment: shoe factory Van Bommel
Rien: “Nice shoe factory, right? It’s brand new. Hey, look, there’s Johan. He’s 17 already.
Johan: “Hey, Rien! Did you bring those samples?
Hey, a new face! Are you the new errand boy? I’m Johan and I’ve just started working in the Cutting department. It’s clean work, but I want to be a buyer for Van Bommel. The pay is really good and you get to travel everywhere!”
Rien: “Well, as errand boys, we travel everywhere too, haha.”
Johan: “Yeah, but you earn less than I do.”
Rien: “Well, you're wrong about that! Not too long ago, Mr Adler had me take a package to Amsterdam by train. It was all rush rush because it had to go on a plane. But I made it and I got 20 guilders as a reward! That’s more than a week’s wages!”
“Come on, let’s cycle back to the leather factory. I’m curious as to what the next job will be. I hope you had fun learning the ropes today. In any case, I’m glad you’re coming to work with us!”
Audio fragment: shoe factory Van Bommel
This audio fragment is part of the Oisterwijk Leather Route.
Shoe Factory Van Bommel
With a history dating back to 1718, Van Bommel is one of the oldest shoe factories in Europe.
Starting point:
Oisterwijkseweg 405066 XC Oisterwijk
Van der Aa houses
Christ van der Aa, born in 1885, was the founder and first director of the tannery that would later become known as KVL.
Starting point:
De Lind 39-415061 HT Oisterwijk
Oisterwijk Station
Built in 1865, Oisterwijk station exudes historic charm and is a lovely starting point for a day out. Its location allows for immediate access to the lively town center or a quick bike ride into the surrounding nature—woods, fens, and heathlands all nearby.
Starting point:
Stationsplein 15061 HG Oisterwijk
Leather Factory KVL
Leather Factory KVL has been transformed into a trendy hotspot! With various restaurants and unique organizations, there’s always something happening at KVL!
Starting point:
Leerfabriek KVLAlmystraat 14
5061PA Oisterwijk
Navigate to endpoint
Story of the route
Leather Factory KVL
Leather Factory KVL has been transformed into a trendy hotspot! With various restaurants and unique organizations, there’s always something happening at KVL!
Starting point:
Leerfabriek KVLAlmystraat 14
5061PA Oisterwijk
Navigate to starting point
It is 1954. The leather factory in Oisterwijk is operating at full capacity. Working at the factory is hard and dirty. The days are long and the pay is low but there is great solidarity among the workers. These workers often start working at the leather factory at a young age, as is the case with Rien as well. He is only 15 and has been working here as an errand boy for half a year. Today he will be showing you, the new errand boy, the ropes at the leather factory and in the surrounding area.
An errand boy from the leather factory goes everywhere, as Rien knows from experience, sometimes even going to the director. But when the red light by the room of director Adler is turned on, he knows that access is prohibited. Despite his curiosity, he obeys. Although he does wonder what goes on behind that door ...
The factory does a lot for the workers and their families. They organise days out and a huge factory party is held every year, with a lottery where you can win valuable prizes – a welcome addition to the low wages. Large families live in small rental houses, but Rien loves his neighbourhood. And yet ... he dreams of having his own house.
Today’s task: Go to the shoe factory Schoenfabriek Van Bommel in Moergestel to bring some samples of leather. Rien decides to take a detour first to show you a few special places in the area. Leaving the factory in Oisterwijk, you cycle past Rien’s house and through the rural area towards Nemerlaer Castle in Haaren.
The contrast between the rental housing in Oisterwijk and Nemerlaer Castle is huge. Especially if you consider that the castle now, in 1954, has been empty for 60 years already because an eccentric nobleman argued with his family. Rien makes a joke that he could see himself living here in about ten years.
The Essche Stroom river runs past the castle. It is severely polluted by the waste water from the textile factory further up in Tilburg and from the leather factory. Hopefully, the river will be cleaned in the future because Rien loves to go swimming. Once he went swimming in a nearby fen (that’s a pool of water) during working hours. But his boss found out and it cost him dearly ... Duty calls and you must go on. You go through the Oisterwijk forests and fens to Moergestel.
The new Van Bommel factory opened in 1952, which means it is only a couple of years old. Rien is filled with admiration for the beautiful factory! At Van Bommel, you meet Johan. He is two years older than Rien and a little more serious. Johan works in the Cutting department but has dreams of becoming a purchaser for Van Bommel. That is how you make good money and get somewhere! Although errand boys earn less than Johan does, Rien does earn little extras now and then. Like that time director Adler wanted him to bring an urgent package to Amsterdam ... Johan had no reply to that.
Your task is completed now and it’s time to go back to the leather factory in Oisterwijk. Rien wonders what his next task will be. Deliver the mail? Pick up an order at the bakery perhaps? Hopefully there will be a nice cup of coffee waiting. He feels that the two of you have earned that at least.
Leather Factory KVL
Leather Factory KVL has been transformed into a trendy hotspot! With various restaurants and unique organizations, there’s always something happening at KVL!
Starting point:
Leerfabriek KVLAlmystraat 14
5061PA Oisterwijk
Navigate to endpoint
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