Walking stage 1 : 's-Hertogenbosch - Boxtel | The Dommelpad Nature Route
Walk from ’s-Hertogenbosch to Boxtel on this countryside stage of the Dommelpad.
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Where people and water converge, measures need to be taken to prevent the inhabited areas from flooding. During this tour covering 12.5 km along River Dommel, you will encounter various examples of this.
The Dommelpad
The Dommelpad takes you over a distance of 125 kilometres from Peer to ’s-Hertogenbosch and back. During this six-day walking route, you cover 20 kilometres a day on average, following the current from south to north and the story of the windmills. And going upstream from north to south, you follow the story of the countryside.
The Dommel’s natural green gems
River Dommel’s valley and the adjacent nature reserves are ranked as Natura 2000 areas and are well worth visiting. Following the course of the meandering river, you encounter swampy forests, hayfields, fens, heathlands and many other types of landscapes.
Towards the source
The Dommel originates in Belgium, close to the city of Peer on the Kempens Plateau and ends 120 kilometres further away in the Dutch city of ‘s-Hertogenbosch.
Stream valleys
The…
Where people and water converge, measures need to be taken to prevent the inhabited areas from flooding. During this tour covering 12.5 km along River Dommel, you will encounter various examples of this.
The Dommelpad
The Dommelpad takes you over a distance of 125 kilometres from Peer to ’s-Hertogenbosch and back. During this six-day walking route, you cover 20 kilometres a day on average, following the current from south to north and the story of the windmills. And going upstream from north to south, you follow the story of the countryside.
The Dommel’s natural green gems
River Dommel’s valley and the adjacent nature reserves are ranked as Natura 2000 areas and are well worth visiting. Following the course of the meandering river, you encounter swampy forests, hayfields, fens, heathlands and many other types of landscapes.
Towards the source
The Dommel originates in Belgium, close to the city of Peer on the Kempens Plateau and ends 120 kilometres further away in the Dutch city of ‘s-Hertogenbosch.
Stream valleys
The water of a river such as the Dommel leaves its mark on the landscape. A stream valley is characterised by low-lying water surrounded by sandy ground which offers plenty of variation.
Space for the river
In the past few centuries, parts of the Dommel have been straightened to enable the water to drain faster and to reclaim land. This process was reversed at many locations at the beginning of this century, giving the river more space to meander.
De Groote Heide
The Dommelpad runs straight through De Groote Heide, a varied cross-border nature reserve covering 6,000 hectares that extends from Eindhoven in the Netherlands to Pelt in Belgium. The watermills adorning the landscape along River Dommel have partly defined the countryside. Discover the local stories and all the beauty that this border region has to offer on degrooteheide.eu.
About this route
The Dommelpad is set out via the Brabant and Belgian/Flemish walking junction network. Simply walk from one numbered junction to the next. Arrows show you the way between the junctions. If you encounter a problem with the route’s signposting, please report this to us via visitbrabant.com/meldpunt. You can also call 0800-4050050 (free of charge).
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Signposting
Simply follow the signs and walk along the route from one numbered junction to the next.
Signposting
Simply follow the signs and walk 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.
Tips from Brabant residents
Skip map elementsLocations on this route
Start point:
Waypoint walk 85
's-Hertogenbosch
Navigate to starting point
Vughterbrug with the Fish Ladder
The Dommel, the Drongelens Canal and the Stadssingel (city canal) converge under the Vughterbrug.
The Moerasdraak self-service chain ferry
From Vughtereiland (island) you cross the Dommel on a self-service cable ferry, called the ‘Moerasdraak’.
Old pumping station and intake system
It is used to flood the Bossche Broek at high tide.
Bossche Broek
Unique is Het Bossche Broek, which borders the historic centre of the city, within walking distance of the centre.
Ir. A.J.A.M. Segersgemaal
The pumping station manages water from the canals and streams in Bossche Broek.
Haanwijk Estate
Haanwijk Estate is near the spot where the River Essche Stroom flows into the Dommel.
Zegenwerp Fish Ladder
The 980-metre-long fish passage spans a height difference of 1.9 metres.
Weir and hydroelectric power station Sint-Michielsgestel
The flowing water sets the propeller in motion
Boxtel sewage treatment plant
This treatment plant of De Dommel Water Board cleans the wastewater.
End point:
Waypoint walk 2
Boxtel
Navigate to endpoint
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