Walking stage 2 : Pelt - Dommelen | The Dommelpad Watermill Route

Walk from Pelt - Dommelen on this watermill stage of the Dommelpad.

(5 hour 6 minutes) 23.0 km

Starting point: from your location


Unfortunately, mills are few and far between along this 23-km stage of the Dommelpad. You pass two watermills and cross the border from Belgium to the Netherlands on the way.

The Dommelpad
The Dommelpad takes you over a distance of 125 kilometres from Peer to ’s-Hertogenbosch and back. During this six-day walking route, you cover 20 kilometres a day on average, following the current from south to north and the story of the windmills. And going upstream from north to south, you follow the story of the countryside. 

The Dommel’s gems
A hundred years ago there were more than 50 watermills in the basin of River Dommel. The mills did their jobs from the source in Peer to the estuary in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. 

Crossing points
The mills were often built on narrow spots in…

Unfortunately, mills are few and far between along this 23-km stage of the Dommelpad. You pass two watermills and cross the border from Belgium to the Netherlands on the way.

The Dommelpad
The Dommelpad takes you over a distance of 125 kilometres from Peer to ’s-Hertogenbosch and back. During this six-day walking route, you cover 20 kilometres a day on average, following the current from south to north and the story of the windmills. And going upstream from north to south, you follow the story of the countryside. 

The Dommel’s gems
A hundred years ago there were more than 50 watermills in the basin of River Dommel. The mills did their jobs from the source in Peer to the estuary in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. 

Crossing points
The mills were often built on narrow spots in the river, where they were highly susceptible to deterioration. There, the Dommel’s strong current meant the watermills could easily rotate. And since the mills formed a sort of dam in the water, they made suitable spots where people could cross the river.

Chain
To operate effectively, the watermills from centuries ago had to be spread out. On old maps, you can see that the mills created a sort of chain. For many years, the mills were our only major energy suppliers and therefore had great economic significance at the time.

Effect on the landscape
Because the water that reached the mills was pushed upwards with the help of the dams, the upstream area became wetter. In the course of the years, these areas by the dam became wet peaty areas with the corresponding vegetation you still see today.

De Groote Heide
The Dommelpad runs straight through De Groote Heide, a varied cross-border nature reserve covering 6,000 hectares that extends from Eindhoven in the Netherlands to Pelt in Belgium. The watermills adorning the landscape along River Dommel have partly defined the countryside. Discover the local stories and all the beauty that this border region has to offer on degrooteheide.eu.

About this route
The Dommelpad is set out via the Brabant and Belgian/Flemish walking junction network. Simply walk from one numbered junction to the next. Arrows show you the way between the junctions. If you encounter a problem with the route’s signposting, please report this to us via visitbrabant.com/meldpunt. You can also call 0800-4050050 (free of charge). 

Sights on this route

39

Starting point:

Waypoint walk 39
Pelt
Navigate to starting point

41
43
42
85
87
45

This was originally a grain mill, but Dewerd was converted into a fulling mill in the 17th century.

Starting point:

Volmolenstraat
Neerpelt
Molen Dewerd
46
50
53
95
94
93
96
64
21
22
24
25
93
94
95
96
97
91
68
08
63
84

The Venberg watermill is located south of Valkenswaard on the Dommel river. This mill, which used to have three functions under one roof (oil mill, bark mill and grain mill), is one of the oldest mills in history.

Starting point:

Venbergse Molen
Molenstraat 211
5556 TA Valkenswaard
The venberg Watermill
37
04
81
82

End point:

Waypoint walk 82
Dommelen
Navigate to endpoint

  • 39
  • 41
  • 43
  • 42
  • 85
  • 87
  • 45
  • 46
  • 50
  • 53
  • 95
  • 94
  • 93
  • 96
  • 64
  • 21
  • 22
  • 24
  • 25
  • 93
  • 94
  • 95
  • 96
  • 97
  • 91
  • 68
  • 08
  • 63
  • 84
  • 37
  • 04
  • 81
  • 82
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