Autumn! That means enjoying the landscape in all its scents and colors in combination with our Van Gogh heritage sites. Discover the sometimes enchanting Brabant landscape with authentic villages, farms, estates, meandering streams, pollard willow and poplar lanes.
It is this landscape, painted by Vincent van Gogh, that can still be experienced in reality today. We introduce you to a number of gems - part of the Van Gogh National Park i.o. - from west to east.
Forests, fens and flowery meadows typify the Pannenhoef, a beautiful nature reserve between Etten-Leur, Zundert, Rijsbergen and Sprundel, which covers no less than 706 hectares. Pure enjoyment in the nature where Vincent van Gogh found his inspiration.
The Liesbos is the green lung between Breda and Etten-Leur. The approximately 200-hectare Liesbos belongs to the oldest forests of the southern Netherlands and is the largest old summer oak forest in the Netherlands. One and all splendor!
On the southern edge of Breda you will find the Mastbos. One of the oldest cultural forests in the Netherlands. It has existed in this form for over 500 years. The forest provided wood for the Spanish fleet and masts for VOC ships. Now it is an impressive hiking area full of ancient trees.
National Park De Loonse en Drunense Duinen is over 3,500 hectares and is located between Tilburg, Helvoirt, Waalwijk and 's-Hertogenbosch. It is a unique shifting sand area and also has extensive forests, heaths and a beautiful viewpoint.
A real natural pearl within National Landscape Het Groene Woud is the Kampina. This vast nature reserve of Natuurmonumenten lies between Oisterwijk and Boxtel and has a very varied landscape. Vast heathlands, narrow streams and fens such as the Belversven, the Huisvennen and the Zandbergsvennen provide beautiful images.
A wet area created by numerous floods of the Dommel River. With fast-growing poplars and rich vegetation of hazel and cherry, this was one of Vincent van Gogh's favorite spots in his Nuenen period.
Between the built-up areas of Boxtel and Sint-Oedenrode lies the beautiful landscape of the Dommel valley. A nature reserve consisting of characteristic wooded banks, hay fields, meadows, woods, heaths and pools.
The Stiphoutse Bossen lie on the border of Helmond, Laarbeek and Nuenen, Gerwen and Nederwetten. In the area there are a dozen beautiful larger and smaller fens. The Kamerven is by far the largest and a fine example of the landscape in which Vincent van Gogh worked. It is the only fens from that era in the area that has remained authentic.
Autumn is a wonderful season to get out and about by bike. A drop of rain we gladly take for granted. Right? The award-winning Van Gogh Cycle Route consists of 435 km of cycling fun, divided into ten unique routes along all Van Gogh monuments. You will enjoy the varied colorful landscapes of Brabant, visit places that shaped Van Gogh, which he drew and painted. Autumn, Vincent's favorite season!
Van Gogh Bicycle route
Getting even closer to Vincent. Following in his footsteps even more. Literally! Because there are now four new Van Gogh walking routes in Van Gogh National Park: Zundert (8 km), Nuenen (10 km), Etten-Leur (14 km), Tilburg (16 km) and Helvoirt (15 km). Put on your daring shoes. Stroll through the leaves as the sun sets the trees and bushes ablaze. Mushrooms that sneak up on you from the forest edge. Unpaved paths that lead you to hidden gems....
Van Gogh Hiking trails
"Vincent to his brother Theo, Etten, July 22, 1878 "
"When we drove back from Zundert across the moors in the evening, Dad and I walked a long way, the sun was setting red behind the mastwood and the evening sky was reflecting in the marshes, the moor and the yellow and white & gray sand were so full of tone and mood."
A visit to Zundert starts with a visit to the Vincent van GoghHuis. There, in addition to the permanent presentation, two beautiful temporary exhibitions are now on display. A variety of walking and cycling routes are available in the museum shop at Vincent van GoghHuis.
Autumn in Zundert
Van Gogh Village Museum portrays Vincent's life in Nuenen and the importance of his Brabant period to his overall oeuvre. It shows the genesis of his first masterpiece The Potato Eaters and his journey towards it, with the many studies of hands, heads and peasants. Vincents Lichtlab: explore for yourself the effects of light and color in surprising ways. Just as Vincent van Gogh did in his time.
Autumn in Nuenen
A visit to Etten-Leur starts with a visit to the old "Kosterswoning" (now Tourist Information Point and Van Gogh museumshop) and the colorful Van Gogh Kerk. In the shop all kinds of excursions, itineraries and souvenirs are available.
Autumn in Etten-Leur
There are few places that have collected as many Van Goghs as Helvoirt. At the information center at Kloosterstraat 30, the walking booklet Beleef Van Gogh in Helvoirt is available and they know all about routes through the area.
Autumn in Helvoirt
Het Noordbrabants Museum houses the only museum in the southern Netherlands to house original works by Vincent van Gogh. Paintings, letters, photographs, animations and other objects tell of Vincent van Gogh, his beginnings as an artist and his connection to his beloved Brabant.
Autumn at HNBM
Mills. Beacons in the Brabant landscape. Van Gogh loved them. During his Brabant years, but also afterwards, he has seen quite a few, described in his letters, drawn and painted. Surrounded by colorful trees (and perhaps a little mist) they are even more beautiful in autumn than they already are by themselves.
