Walking stage 3 : Dommelen - Eindhoven | The Dommelpad Watermill Route

Walk from Dommelen to Eindhoven on this watermill stage of the Dommelpad.

(3 hour 54 minutes) 17.6 km

Starting point: from your location


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You are at the start of a lovely route covering 17.6 km that takes you past three watermills and the location where one once stood. The end of the route is in Eindhoven, where the road turns into the city via a stunning park.

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 na…

You are at the start of a lovely route covering 17.6 km that takes you past three watermills and the location where one once stood. The end of the route is in Eindhoven, where the road turns into the city via a stunning park.

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

Starting point:

Bergstraat
Dommelen
Navigate to starting point
82

The double undershot mill on the Dommel dates from the 13th century. A double watermill stood here originally: a corn mill on the left bank and an oil mill on the right bank

Starting point:

Bergstraat 1
5551 AW Valkenswaard
Dommelse Watermolen
35
34
40
41

Built in the 14th century, it was once a corn mill. The farmers from the surrounding area were forced to have to harvests ground here.

Starting point:

Dommelseweg 1
Waalre
Loondermolen
74
73
44
45
46
71

Fire destroyed the Volmolen or Waalrese Molen in 1962. A double mill stood on this spot in 1350.

Starting point:

Volmolen 4
Riethoven
Volmolen
72
01
45
43
80
89
84
66
50
70

Throughout the centuries, the mill has been rebuilt and restored on numerous occasions. It has also had various functions, such as an oil mill and a fulling mill.

Starting point:

Genneperweg 143
5644 RS Eindhoven
Genneper Watermolen
92

Van Abbemuseum is now on the spot where the Stratumse Watermolen once stood.

Starting point:

Stratumsedijk 2
Eindhoven
Stratumse Watermolen
28
27
25

End point:

Dommelstraat
Eindhoven
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