Slow travel along the best parts of the Land van de Peel
Very few people will be able to point it out on the map – and that’s precisely what gives the Land van de Peel its charm. It’s a small part of North Brabant where the extensive Peel landscape invites you on a trip at a leisurely pace, along cycling and walking routes, country lanes and monastery pathways. A region where the heart beats to the unmistakable Brabant hospitality, individuality, and passion for enjoying life in a way that only the people of Brabant know how to do. You can experience the best of the Land van de Peel in a couple of days by car, bike or on foot.
Day 1. Helmond and surrounding area
Helmond is located in the heart of the Land van de Peel. It’s a town where a medieval castle is situated right next to industrial hotspots and where shopping streets merge seamlessly into a countryside full of culinary addresses and lovely cycling and walking routes.
Aarle-Rixtel Monastery walking tour
You can already get a foretaste of this in rural Aarle-Rixtel, a stone’s throw from Helmond. One of the Brabant monastery walking tours starts at Brabantse Kluis, a former monastery. A 13-kilometre countryside walk will take you past some of the religious gems in the vicinity, such as the impressive Gemert Monastery.
After about three hours of walking you will be back at your starting point, just in time for lunch! You can sample and experience the best of the Brabant countryside at Herberg de Brabantse Kluis restaurant. Choose a place in the old monastery farmhouse or on the terrace overlooking the cows. This is where the land and its animals complement each other, for while you are enjoying your beer, the dairy cattle are eating the brewer’s grain that is left as a residual product when producing beer. Not only that, the milk produced by the cows goes back to the restaurant each day and ends up as the froth on your cappuccino. Be sure to take a look in the Missieklooster (Missionary Convent), light a candle in the Mariagrot cave and take home something tasty from the farm shop.
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Our Monastery Trail: circular tour Aarle-Rixtel
Our Monastery Trail: circular tour Aarle-Rixtel
2 hour 55 minutes 13 km
Icons of Helmond
You are just a ten-minute drive from the countryside into the centre of Helmond. This is a town you should visit with an open mind, because of the quirky places that give Helmond its charm. The eye-catcher is the largest moated castle in the Netherlands, a castle like the ones you see depicted in fairy tales. Among the things it contains is an exhibition about the town’s history.
The best discoveries in Helmond are sometimes well hidden. Follow the 3 kilometre Street Art Route from the castle for a trip along colourful murals that also shows you the town centre. This includes the famous cube houses designed by Piet Blom in the 1970s. Helmond was the first city to have these unusual houses, long before they achieved worldwide fame in Rotterdam.
"Ready for a break? You’re never far from a good cup of coffee with a tasty treat in Helmond. But there’s something else to admire at Juuds Foederer. You can take your seat with a vegan cake among the works of art in this painting and art shop."
Arrive at Wonder Woods
It’s time to check in to your weekend accommodation. The natural oasis of Wonder Woods is located within a fifteen-minute drive from Helmond. Located on the edge of the Lierop Woods, this is the perfect spot to go back to nature and spend the night in a bell tent or a cosy hiker’s cabin. The electric bikes are ready for you to explore the area, but nobody is going to blame you if you prefer to go to the sauna or the outdoor pool instead.
"There is only one way to round off the day in Brabant: at the table! Guus and Christel will welcome you in their old blacksmith’s shop in the Wilhelminaplein in Someren for a delicious dinner with seasonal dishes, just a ten-minute drive – or twenty minutes by bike."
Day 2: Sampling the Peel countryside - Wake up among the Beuven pools
The Peellanders (residents of the Peel region) are proud of their countryside. That’s no surprise, for this extensive and exceptionally peaceful landscape of heathland and pools is a magnet for birdlife and other species of special plants and animals. A visit to this well protected Natura 2000 area is a real experience. You can walk from Wonder Woods to the Beuven; the largest natural pool in the Netherlands. Make a good start to the day with a healthy breakfast at Café van Moorsel, and from there follow the 10-kilometre Beuven Route.
The best of the Brabant countryside
A walk in the morning like this one will leave you with a taste for more. A good way to spend the afternoon is to get on your (electric) bike and explore more of the countryside. You can get to Boscafé de Soete Inval in just ten minutes from Wonder Woods or the Beuven. Enjoy a delicious lunch here, but leave some room so you can enjoy one of the Brabant Food Routes. This is the best (and tastiest!) way to get to know the Peel countryside and the Peellanders.
The Asten-Someren food route is 40 kilometres in length and perfect for an afternoon trip with some lovely breaks. Your cycle trip will take you through Someren and past De Groot Peel Nature Reserve. Along the way you will meet friendly Brabant farmers who work enthusiastically day in, day out on their farms to provide traditional produce. Take home some organic goat cheese, fresh vegetables or free-range eggs with you; every reason to enjoy a real Brabant meal back home.
