From monastery gardens to drifting sand dunes: a 5-day motorhome road trip through the Van Gogh National Park
Hike and cycle through the beauty of nature, sample local specialities and become acquainted with the stories of the landscape and its inhabitants. This five-day route takes you from east to west through the Van Gogh National Park. There is always a hospitable home base for your motorhome, welcoming you to North Brabant with open arms. Explore monasteries and castles, woods and dunes, villages and cities where life is enjoyed in the Brabant manner.
Day 1. Arrival in the Land van de Peel
Your road trip starts off well in the Land van de Peel, sandwiched between Eindhoven and Helmond and the Limburg border. It is a green gem, well-hidden in North Brabant. The ideal home base for exploring this region is Croy motorhome pitch in Aarle-Rixtel. Here, among the meadows and woods, you are welcomed by Jos and Jolande and stay overnight with a beautiful view of Croy Castle.
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Croy motorhome pitch
Croy motorhome pitch
This small-scale Croy motorhome pitch offers space for fifteen campers and is beautifully situated in the middle of the greenery and in the vicinity of Croy Castle.
Cows and monasteries
After you arrive, take the time to explore the surrounding area, choosing from among the many hiking and cycle routes. The Missieklooster Heilig Bloed (Missionary Convent of the Holy Blood) is definitely worth a visit. The convent is still inhabited and, as a visitor, you are welcome in the convent garden, Lourdes grotto and the small museum with objects that the sisters carried home from their missionary travels. If you have enough time, you can also follow a lovely monastery tour that is 13 kilometres long and takes you past the religious heritage and through amazing nature reserves.
The monumental monastery farm of the Missieklooster contains the Brabantse Kluis inn. While the curious cows approach, you will enjoy a tasteful lunch or dinner with local ingredients. If you would rather cook yourself tonight, on Fridays and Saturdays it is possible to pick up fresh produce at Croy’s regional shop, which is within walking distance from the motorhome pitch. This address is known to all people in Brabant in the area as a good place for fresh vegetables and fruit produced locally.
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Our Monastery Trail: circular tour Aarle-Rixtel
Our Monastery Trail: circular tour Aarle-Rixtel
This 13-kilometre circular walk lets you discover the beautiful countryside around the Missionary Convent Holy Blood (Missieklooster Heilig Bloed) in Aarle-Rixtel.
2 hour 55 minutes 13 km
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Herberg de Brabantse Kluis
Herberg de Brabantse Kluis
Have you always wanted to enjoy Heavenly and Earthly dishes between cows and Missionary Sisters? Herberg de Brabantse Kluis is the atmospheric surprise in the green countryside of Aarle-Rixtel.
Day 2. Cycling through Van Gogh’s life
Leave the motorhome where it is, because the best discoveries are within cycling distance. From the motorhome pitch, it takes half an hour to cycle to Nuenen, the beating heart of Van Gogh National Park. The junction network will lead you right through the farming landscape of the Peel. Along the way you will get a taste of the Brabant landscape that so inspired Vincent van Gogh.
A journey through the life of Van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh grew up in North Brabant. The Van Gogh Village Museum allows you to get to know him as a person, an artist and a resident of Brabant. After your visit, take the time to walk through Nuenen again where, as in an outdoor museum, you pass places that meant a lot to the artist. Of course, you cannot miss the life-size bronze work of the Potato Eaters, which is an homage to the hard life of farmers. Van Gogh was so fascinated that he recorded it in many of his works.
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Van Gogh Village Nuenen
Van Gogh Village Nuenen
Nuenen has every right to call itself a Van Gogh Village. There is nowhere else in the Netherlands where you can literally tread in the footsteps of this world-famous artist.
Lunch in a painting
Lunch in a painting
For lunch today, there is no better place than the Opwetten Watermill. It is a picturesque spot along the banks of the Dommel river, just outside Nuenen. The mill still stands there, almost exactly as it did when Van Gogh drew it. Only now you can have a delightful lunch in the brasserie.
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The Opwetten Watermill
The Opwetten Watermill
There’s something quite unique about the Opwetten Watermill because where else in the world can you find yourself inside one of Vincent van Gogh’s paintings?
You have the rest of the afternoon to cycle back to Aarle-Rixtel, following a beautiful route. Take a small detour through Lieshout. This typical Brabant village is home to the Vogelenzang mill – very much a favourite of Van Gogh. In 1885 he recorded the mill twice in a black-and-white drawing. On Saturdays the mill is open for viewing.
Day 3. Helmond and Heusden
Today the rural tranquillity is exchanged for Helmond’s city liveliness, less than 5 kilometres down the road. For a wonderful cycle route, follow the signs ‘Rondje Helmond’ (Helmond Route), starting at cycle junction 61, near the motorhome pitch.
The stories of Helmond Castle
You will end up by the imposing Helmond Castle, a castle that looks like the ones in fairy tales. Inside the castle walls of the largest moated castles in the Netherlands is a museum that takes you through the centuries with wars, knights and noble families.
Leaving the castle, it is only a few minutes’ walk to the centre of Helmond. De Deftige Aap restaurant, located next to the market square in the city’s oldest building is a good spot for lunch. This city-based brewery allows you to experience the industrial character of Helmond with its bold dishes, matching beers and an eccentric interior.
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Kasteel Helmond (Helmond Castle)
Kasteel Helmond (Helmond Castle)
The castle is one of the best preserved medieval castles in the Netherlands. Lodewijk (Louis) Berthout van Berlaer, Lord of Helmond, probably started building it between 1325 and 1350.
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Stadsbrouwerij De Deftige Aap
Stadsbrouwerij De Deftige Aap
In Helmond's oldest building, dating from 1550, you are welcome seven days a week for lunch, dinner and drinks. And don't forget to taste the ten different beers that flow from the tap.
The fortified town of Heusden
Once back at the motorhome pitch, it is time to continue the road trip. The next home base is less than an hour away: Camperplaats Heusden, close to Brabant’s capital city ‘s-Hertogenbosch. This is a unique place to stay overnight, next to the marina and only a stone’s throw away from the fortress. Heusden is often called one of the most beautiful fortified towns in the Netherlands. It is one of the 11 fortified towns in North Brabant that together form the largest section of the Zuiderwaterlinie. Today you will discover for yourselves why this picturesque town should not be missing from your bucket list. Stroll leisurely through its narrow streets filled with charming boutique shops and studios.
"Looking for a nice place to eat? Consider 't Wapen van Heusden or In den Verdwaalde Koogel."
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The Fortified Town of Heusden
The Fortified Town of Heusden
With its picturesque streets, age-old buildings, many studios and galleries, unique shops and top restaurants, the charming town of Heusden is a great destination for lovers of art, culture, history and good cuisine.
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Motorhome pitch Heusden
Motorhome pitch Heusden
A motorhome pitch in one of the most beautiful fortified cities in the Netherlands. Motorhome pitch Heusden is not only open 365 days a year, it is also unique in both North Brabant and the Netherlands.
Day 4. Loon and Drunen Dunes
Perhaps you want to take it easy this morning or explore Heusden some more. In any case, the day starts right with artisanal rolls from Bakkertjes Deeg bakery, a household name in Heusden.
The Brabant Sahara
Then mount your bicycle once again because nature is always just around the corner in North Brabant. Less than ten kilometres south of Heusden is one of the most unique nature reserves in the Netherlands – the Loon and Drunen dunes. This is an area known for its enormous sand flats, a rare landscape of drifting sands in Europe. You can cycle straight into the countryside from the motorhome pitch for a varying route via the junctions that totals 35 kilometres.
Junctions: 01, 83, 85, 86, 88, 92, 91.
Typically Dutch countryside in De Langstraat
Today you will tackle not only the Loon and Drunen dunes but you will also cycle through the extraordinary Natura 2000 area called De Langstraat. This green area that connects the cities ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Tilburg and Breda was once an extended lowland peat bog where a lot of peat extraction took place. Thanks to nature’s ability to heal, it is once again a lush and typically Dutch landscape, home to many species of birds. There are places along the way to take a break, such as the large terrace of Eetcafé De Rustende Jager (The Resting Hunter) at junction 72.
Continuation of route following junctions: 71, 72, 72, 34, 35, 34, 72, 72, 81, 21, 15, 10.
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De Rustende Jager
De Rustende Jager
For more than 100 years, De Rustende Jager has been a stopping place for all who visit the nearby Loonse and Drunense Duinen National Park.
Schoenenkwartier, Waalwijk
The route back to Heusden takes you through the centre of Waalwijk with its striking Schoenenkwartier (Shoe Quarter). It is impossible to overlook this building. This modern museum, housed in a historic heritage site, tells the story of the Brabant footwear industry. The immense collection of more than 13,000 shoes and almost just as many other objects amazes visitors of all ages. Once you are done here, there are plenty of charming terraces in the immediate vicinity of the museum.
Continuation of route following junctions: 09, 03, 04, 84, 85, 83, 01.
"After a long day of impressions, a meal at BOEI35 is a good way to unwind. The restaurant is located next to the motorhome pitch and may provide the most beautiful view of the entire fortress."
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The Shoe Quarter
The Shoe Quarter
This museum in the centre of Waalwijk connects the rich history of the leather and shoe industry with the future.
Day 5. Nature walk and going back home
The last day of the road trip has begun and, if you so desire, you can spend it in the surrounding area. Before you leave for home, for example, visit De Roestelberg restaurant, one of the gateways to the Loon and Drunen dunes.
Relax in the woods and the dunes
From De Roestelberg restaurant you can follow the TOP Scenic Routes through the national park. Strolling along the wood-paths and through the dunes allows you to experience the area in an entirely different manner. This is not strange, given that the nature reserve is larger than seven thousand football fields! Along the way you might even encounter the shepherd with his herd of sheep. This is a wonderful walk for allowing the impressions of the past few days to sink in before heading home again.
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TOP Scenic Walking Tour the Loon and Drunen Dunes
TOP Scenic Walking Tour the Loon and Drunen Dunes
Nowhere else is a walk as beautiful as in the Loon and Drunen Dunes National Park.
4 hour 5 minutes 16.4 km
