A cultural city trip: Breda and surrounding area
Did you know that the roots of the Dutch Royal Family lie in Breda? And that the city is a canvas for more than 100 wall paintings? And that none other than Vincent van Gogh found his inspiration in the nature around Breda? Breda is a city filled with unique stories, some of which you will learn about during this two-day trip. You will stroll past monuments and creative hotspots, stay overnight in a monastery and admire the city from the water. You will close the weekend in nearby Etten-Leur with a bicycle ride through the inspiring Van Gogh National Park.
Day 1: Inhaling culture in Breda
One thing that will strike you as soon as you arrive in Breda: the city is so beautiful! The medieval city centre contains many historic buildings. History literally lies on the streets. Drop your baggage off at your accommodation and then hit the road!
Stay overnight in a monastery
Stay overnight in a monastery
A cultural city trip hotel requires a hotel with a story. That story can be found at Hotel Nassau, a former monastery that has been converted into a boutique hotel and is located on the oldest street in Breda. Each room is unique and many original details from the centuries-old history have been preserved.
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Hotel Nassau Breda, Autograph Collection
Hotel Nassau Breda, Autograph Collection
Located in an originally extensive complex of national monuments, and in one of the oldest streets in Breda, Hotel Nassau Breda, Autograph Collection, by Marriott offers a truly unique hotel experience.
City of the Nassaus
Your exploration of the city begin right in front of the hotel in the middle of the city centre. What do you feel like doing? To get to know more about the city’s Nassau past, you could follow the Explore Royal Breda hiking path. This 4-kilometre-long route takes you past unique places in the city centre, such as the picturesque Begijnhof and Breda Castle. Of course a visit to the Grote Kerk or the Church of Our Lady is a must as well. Be sure to take a look inside or reserve a time slot to climb the tower and enjoy the sunset and the beautiful view of the city.
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Grote Kerk Breda
Grote Kerk Breda
After viewing the church and admiring the current exhibitions, you can also climb the tower or take a guided tour.
The city as a canvas
But Breda is more than its historic monuments. Those who look around carefully will explore the city and its history in a very different manner. There are more than 100 wall paintings distributed throughout all of Breda, the Blind Walls Gallery, which transforms the city into a huge canvas. Each artwork tells a story about the city.
"The mural in ’t Sas, a well-hidden square in the city centre. Here you admire the creative street art with the Grote Kerk as a background. The free Blind Walls Gallery app allows you the select your own route and leads you past the most beautiful artworks."
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Blind Walls Gallery
Blind Walls Gallery
Blind Walls Gallery changes the appearance of Breda through impressive and meaningful murals inspired by local heritage and stories. Discover the murals via the website, mobile app or during a guided tour with an experienced guide.
Lunch in the Havenkwartier (harbour area)
It’s time for a lunch in an extraordinary special part of the city: the Havenkwartier. This is also where you will end up if you follow the Creative Route from the centre. What used to be a raw industrial area is now a creative spot filled with unique places like Belcrum beach where you can relax with your feet in the sand. Or you can select a drink at Pier15, where there is always something to do – especially on sunny days and weekends. Don’t miss out on STEK, which is actually a village in itself on Haveneiland. Here you wander among the sustainable artists, the vintage shops and unique catering – also a cool place to visit, especially on weekends. Lunch is at Kolenmeesters.
SUPping (standup paddleboarding) on the canals
Characteristic for Breda are the canals, where quite a few boats have most likely passed you by on your walk. You see the city from an entirely different perspective when on the water. It is possible to rent boats, canoes and SUP (standup paddle) boards at various places in and around the Havenkwartier – for example, at Spuflow at Belcrum Beach and Bootje Varen Breda (Boating in Breda). From there, you first paddle through part of the harbour and then enter the quieter canals. Admire historic sites along the way, the Castle of Breda and the Spanjaardsgat, a 16th-century water gate. In 1591, Breda was cleverly recaptured from the Spanish through this iconic gate on the water. Park Valkenburg, which is also charming on a nice day, is also worth a stop.
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Bootje Varen Breda
Bootje Varen Breda
An amazing boat trip through Breda begins at a unique catering location: BAAI Breda. Go on a boat trip in a luxurious boat through the Singels, the Boeimeer residential areas and ’t Ginneken or to the magnificent Markdal.
Culinary enjoyment in Breda
Stop for a drink on your way back to the hotel. Find a seat at Baai, near the water. Or walk a little further for a special beer at Frontaal Brewing Company, located in the former sugar factory. Dinner can be eaten in one of the many restaurants that are just a stone’s throw away from the hotel. The attractive streets and squares around the market are teeming with good and charming restaurants. If you want an amazing location with a good story, be sure to check out the restaurant De Jongens van Zand en Klei in the Veemarktkwartier. They know how to make something very extraordinary from a perfectly normal potato!
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BAAI Breda
BAAI Breda
There is a beautiful terrace alongside the water at the location where the Mark river enters Breda. BAAI is the place to enjoy delicious wines and many various Breda beers. But what is most striking is how you immediately experience that wonderful holiday feeling here.
Day 2: Cycling in Van Gogh National Park
It is a good experience to wake up at the breakfast table in Hotel Nassau. Breakfast is served here in the old refectory, the monastery’s former eating hall. It is still completely in style, with vaulted ceilings and stained-glass windows. Today you will be leaving the city and exploring another piece of culture that is very characteristic of North Brabant: the heritage of the world’s most famous resident of Brabant, Vincent van Gogh. The master painter went through several milestones in his life near Breda. For this, you drive for fifteen minutes to reach the centre of Etten-Leur. Did you come to Breda with public transport? It only takes 8 minutes by train to get to Etten-Leur from Breda station.
"In Breda itself you can also follow in Van Gogh’s footsteps. His grandfather preached in the Grote Kerk and other churches and there are several Blind Walls dedicated to Van Gogh."
Van Gogh in Etten-Leur
Etten-Leur was an important place in the life of Van Gogh. It was here that he registered as an artist in 1881. His father preached in the church of what was formerly known as Etten. Today, it is known as the Van Gogh Church, where you can visit the multimedia Van Gogh Experience. With 9 huge projects, the church is brought to life. Visit the church in combination with the Sint Paulushofje Museum (Saint Paul’s Almshouses Museum). It will take you back in time to life around 1900. Discover how people lived, worked and spent their days at that time in the exact surroundings that inspired Van Gogh and shaped his view of life and art.
Van Gogh left behind traces of himself throughout all of North Brabant. The heritage sites that remind us of him are connected to one another in the Van Gogh National Park, which contains 10 unique bicycle loops that total 435 km. From the centre of Etten-Leur you can follow a 29-kilometre-long route that goes past 5 monuments and beautiful nature reserves where Van Gogh liked to be.
"Rent a bicycle from Fietsspecialist Van der Veeken, about 200 metres from the Van Gogh Church."
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Van Gogh Etten-Leur
Van Gogh Etten-Leur
Experience the beginnings of Van Gogh's artistic career in Etten-Leur! Discover his world in the Van Gogh Church with an impressive multimedia experience and travel back in time at the Sint Paulushofje Museum, where village life inspired him. One ticket, two unique locations, one story.
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Vincent van Gogh cycle route Etten-Leur South
Vincent van Gogh cycle route Etten-Leur South
The start of a career The Van Gogh family lived in Etten from 1875 to 1882. Father Theodorus was the minister there. Etten was frequently a place of refuge for Vincent van Gogh in that period. Having failed in his attempts to become an art dealer, teacher
2 hour 25 minutes 29 km
Through Van Gogh’s eyes
Leaving Etten-Leur, you will soon be cycling through farmland, through the fields, orchards and monumental farms. Note the typical lanes with pollard willows. Van Gogh was particularly keen on these characteristic trees and immortalized them many times in the sketches of his initial period. Cycle through the surrounding villages such as Hoeven and St. Willebrord and find various audio columns along the route that will bring Van Gogh’s work to life in the landscape.
The Menmoerhoeve
Before you return to your starting point in the city centre, there is a good place to take a break. At the Menmoerhoeve they demonstrate what conscious farming can look like. Farm animals wander about, there is a food forest and a vegetable and butterfly garden. Enjoy a well-deserved lunch on the terrace with a view over the fields with, of course, most of lunch’s ingredients come from their own garden. This is where you can immerse yourself in life on a Brabant farm. It is also what inspired Van Gogh’s most famous artworks and today still inspires a way of life in and with nature.
"Or would you rather go for a walk rather than a bicycle ride? The Menmoerhoeve is also the starting point of one of the 5 Van Gogh walks through the Van Gogh National Park. This 14-kilometre-long will take you through the picturesque Pannehoef nature reserve."
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De Menmoerhoeve
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.
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Van Gogh NP walking tour Etten-Leur
Van Gogh NP walking tour Etten-Leur
Welcome to Etten-Leur. This is the place where Vincent van Gogh started his artistic career in 1881.
3 hour 30 minutes 14 km
Ellen of ellensvoyage-travelblog.com, a Flemish native, went on a similar trip. Read about her experiences in the blog Uncover the Vibrant Charms of Breda while also Discovering the Surrounding Nature.
