Reflection and wonder on a two-day walking trail
For centuries, the Brabant countryside has been a place of contemplation and inspiration. Monastics and the master painter Van Gogh are just a few who found peace and a zest for life here. You follow in their footsteps during a two-day walking trip, combining a circular route past monasteries and abbeys around Heeswijk and the enchanting Oisterwijk Forests & Fens. With a night spent in the countryside and plenty of enjoyable moments along the way, you’ll discover for yourself what the countryside gives you.
Day 1. Heeswijk-Dinther Monastery Trail
Celebrate and connect
Your walk starts in Heeswijk with a circular route of 10 kilometres through the Brabant countryside, just east of the capital of ’s-Hertogenbosch. Berne Abbey is the start and end point of the Heeswijk-Dinther Monastery Trail. The large driveway and open gates of the monastic order of the Norbertines illustrate that they don’t hide their values behind high abbey walls but instead make them accessible to today’s world. Vita mixta, as they say: in connection with the world. A walk through the tranquil abbey gardens is a wonderful way to start the route. You can order an abbey beer, brewed under the motto ‘celebrate life’, in the tasting room. Or, if it’s too early for that, enjoy a cup of coffee before setting off.
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Our Monastery Trail: circular tour Heeswijk-Dinther
Our Monastery Trail: circular tour Heeswijk-Dinther
This 10.4 km circular walk revolves around the Berne Abbey, both literally and figuratively.
2 hour 20 minutes 10.4 km
The stories of Heeswijk Castle
From the abbey, you walk out of the village and into the countryside with its beautiful avenues and vast panoramas until you see Heeswijk Castle looming ahead. The castle has towers and moats straight out of a fairy tale, and its interior is just as enchanting. Take the time to visit the castle and step back into history as you walk over the drawbridge. The castle’s rooms tell the story from its origins as a modest fort in 1050 to the castle it is today, with hand-painted wallpaper, medieval vaulted cellars, and halls filled with works of art.
‘Be sure to visit the castle shop. I’m not normally a fan of them, but this one is genuinely lovely, with some really nice items. I actually wanted to buy all the products with the Chinese wallpaper design, but I settled for a puzzle – perfect for relaxing on colder days.’
Before continuing your walk, you can have lunch in the old coach house on the castle grounds. Find a comfortable spot on the patio or inside in the restaurant Bij de Barones and enjoy the views over the estate. After lunch, take the unpaved paths from the castle along the River Aa, with its rows of pollard willows and birds enjoying the area that has been given back to nature. You then walk back to Berne Abbey via St Willibrord’s Church.
Spend the night in Oisterwijk’s countryside
It’s time to catch your breath and Brabant’s countryside gives you every opportunity to do so. KampinaStaete's rural holiday homes are just a 30-minute drive from Heeswijk. They are nestled in the middle of Oisterwijk’s forests and on the edge of the vast De Kampina Nature Reserve. The charming centre of Oisterwijk is just a few minutes away, where you can enjoy a delicious dinner. Prefer to stay in the peaceful countryside? A 15-minute walk will take you to Restaurant Meneer van Eijk, where you can enjoy gastronomic delights in the heart of the forest.
Day 2. Oisterwijk Forests and Fens
At KampinaStaete, you wake up to the sounds of the forest. Take a moment to enjoy nature awakening around you. Start your day with breakfast in the nearby Boscafé or have a delicious breakfast basket delivered to your door for that ultimate holiday feeling.
Van Gogh National Park
Today, the adventure starts as soon as you step out of the door; you’re in the heart of Van Gogh National Park. It’s an expansive green area between the cities of Eindhoven, Tilburg and ’s-Hertogenbosch, where the world’s most famous Brabant native, Vincent van Gogh, grew up. Van Gogh wandered endlessly through the idyllic Brabant landscape, finding the peace that helped him express his artistic talent, and the inspiration behind many of his most celebrated works of art. Today, you’ll set off to discover what the countryside stirs within you or how it brings you peace.
The 14 Fens route
A 10-minute car drive takes you from KampinaStaete to Groot Speijck Nature Gate, the starting point of many walking and cycling routes. This morning, you’ll follow the 14 Fens Route to experience the very best of Oisterwijk Forests and Fens. This water-rich area is home to abundant birdlife, so keep your eyes and ears open for a green or spotted woodpecker or even a kingfisher. It’s an exceptionally photogenic natural area, full of stunning vistas and reflective fens. If you arrive early, the often low-hanging morning mist over the fens gives the landscape an even more magical atmosphere.
Each of the 14 fens has a story that explains the origin of its name. For example, the Goorven refers to a time when labourers worked day and night with their hands deep in the fens.
The route, covering just under 10 kilometres, takes you back to the Groot Speijck restaurant. Enjoy a well-earned break on the large patio and an artisan lunch in the heart of the forest. If you’d prefer to enjoy something tasty at one of the fens on the way, you can pre-order a delicious picnic from Groot Speijck and collect your lunch, including a picnic blanket, before starting your walk.
In the footsteps of forest ranger Frans
If you still have energy left, go for a stroll through the nearby Kampina. Herds of cattle and horses graze in this lush nature reserve, and great white herons fly overhead. The Kampina is popular among walkers and cyclists, but few love it as much as retired forest ranger Frans Kapteijns. Starting from Banisveld car park in Boxtel – a 15-minute drive from Groot Speijck – the 6.7-kilometre Boswachter Frans Wandelroute (Forest Ranger Frans Walking Route – only in Dutch) shows you the landscape as seen through his expert eyes, with fascinating facts about the natural wonders you’ll encounter along the way. Don’t miss the 12-metre observation tower ‘Tour de Frans’; it offers the perfect opportunity to look out over the vast countryside and perhaps reflect on what your time in the Brabant countryside has brought you.
