Jan van Gorp cycling and walking route | Sagas & Legends

Discover The Earthly Paradise from Jan van Gorp at Hilvarenbeek.

( 2 hour 5 minutes ) 15.5 km

Starting point: from your location

Accept cookies to see this content.

Show all 6 photos

A ‘child prodigy’ was born in Hilvarenbeek in the 16th century. It was Johannes Goropius Becanus, also called Jan van Gorp. Jan had a great gift for languages, amazing intuition and vast knowledge of nature. He combined that knowledge with feeling and found… the EARTHLY PARADISE. Read more about Jan’s story here and join us on a trip.

The cycle and walking route starts on the Vrijthof in Hilvarenbeek and is 15,5 km in length. On the way, you can stop at Gasterij De Nieuwe Hoef. Here, you can park your bike and start a 5.5 km walk through the stunning countryside.

Get down and discover
Make your cycling adventure complete en surprise yourself along the route with special products, offers and packages which have this route as their theme.

Goropius cake from De Nieuwe Hoef.
Jan van Gorp hulled wheat cake flour from De Molen Doornboom and De Heemtuin.
ParadICE van Gorp from ZinIn.

Information about this cycle route
This cyc…

Get down and discover
Make your cycling adventure complete en surprise yourself along the route with special products, offers and packages which have this route as their theme.

Goropius cake from De Nieuwe Hoef.
Jan van Gorp hulled wheat cake flour from De Molen Doornboom and De Heemtuin.
ParadICE van Gorp from ZinIn.

Information about this cycle route
This cycle and walking route is 15,5 kilometres long and marked out via the official cycling junction network. Follow the route from one numbered intersection to the next. Arrows point the way between the junctions.

Route hotline
If you find something wrong with the signage or the route, please report it via Meldpunt knooppuntroutes Brabant (Brabant junction route hotline). You can also call 0800-4050050 (free).

Experience exciting regional stories in Brabant
Sagas and legends live on in Brabant. Beautiful routes take you past the most impressive spots where regional stories come to life. Join us on an exploration and experience the story of Jan van Gorp and his Earthly Paradise.

Additional route information

We have more information available about this route.

Download more information

Hotline routes
Hotline routes
If there is something wrong on the route, report it here.

Skip map tab stops

Show me on the map

Leaflet Sources: Esri, TomTom, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community

Sights on this route

Saint Peter’s Church

Saint Peter’s Church stems from 990! A tuff stone church was built here at that time. The current (Gothic) church and tower date back to around 1300.

Geboden Linde

The centuries-old linden tree on the Vrijthof has seen everything pass by. From criminals who were tried under its branches to funfair-goers who whirled around it in all kinds of fairground attractions.

Van Gorp Castle

This hunting lodge was also called Van Gorp Castle. The house was built around 1870. The garden in front of the house contains a lovely statue of Diana, the goddess of hunting.

Paradise Bridge

In the stunning nature areas of the Gorp en Roovert Estate, you will find ‘paradise bridge’, one of the many references to Jan van Gorp.

De Nieuwe Hoef

Earthly Paradise, the painting (replica)

Earthly Paradise, the painting (replica). A replica of the painting ‘The Earthly Paradise with the Fall of Adam and Eve’ hangs in Gasterij De Nieuwe Hoef.

Roovertsche Leij

As a Nature Gate, the eating and drinking venue De Roovertsche Leij is the starting point from which to explore the surrounding countryside.

Roovertse Leij

A small river flows from Belgium into the estate of Gorp and Roovert, meandering entirely naturally through the forest.

Roovertse Bergen with a giant bench

You will find a lovely play forest at the Roovertsedijk. Children can do all kinds of things here: building huts, climbing in trees and simply running and playing around.