Holiday apartment in Alphen-Chaam: Nature, cycling routes and history

Alphen-Chaam combines nature, cycling and hiking routes, water activities and regional history. Between forests, streams, heathlands and historic sites, it presents a varied picture of the Dutch landscape.

Nature

The Chaamse Bossen are among the natural areas of the Barony of Breda and are accessible year-round. They combine ancient forests, wet grasslands, streams, sand dunes, heathlands and fens. Roe deer live in the forests, while birds of prey fly above the treetops. Putven is a remnant of a former fen that was too deep to be reclaimed. In the Ossengoor area, wading birds, dragonflies and damselflies find a habitat in the shallow water.

The catchment area of the Chaamse Beek also features a characteristic landscape with flower-rich meadows, hedges and pollard willows. ’t Reservaatje on the Laag Heiveltse Beek consists of flower-rich grassland, two ponds and a hedge. Walking options along the Chaamse Beek include a barefoot or boot trail, walking routes available from the VVV Alphen-Chaam and a short circular route in the Reservaatje, which partly runs along a footbridge beside a pond. The Chaamse Beek area also has three short circular routes created by the municipality of Alphen-Chaam together with various partner organisations.

Activities

Alphen-Chaam has hiking and cycling routes of various lengths, as well as several recreational areas and picnic spots. In the Chaamse Bossen, numerous hiking trails lead through forests and village centres, as well as along farmland, heathlands, sand drifts, fens and streams.

The Fietsallee, a 45-kilometre, largely car-free cycle path, runs through the Chaamse Bossen nature reserve. It follows and passes through Brabant’s largest contiguous forest areas. In some sections, the Fietsallee follows the historic trade route from Breda to Maastricht. Another route through the Chaamse Bossen is 52 kilometres long. There are ten catering establishments with terraces along the Fietsallee.

The Grensland De Baronie region has ready-made themed routes for hiking, cycling and horse riding. You can also plan your own routes using an extensive cycle junction network. At the ’t Zand recreational area, you can swim, hike and cycle.

Culture and history

The Oudheidkundig Streekmuseum Alphen tells the story of the regional landscape, settlement, livelihoods, customs, notable figures and special events. The museum has an archaeological collection as well as finds from the Grootmoederstijd, which tell the story of Alphen. The local history of Alphen-Chaam also includes finds from prehistoric times and from the Roman and Merovingian periods.

Since the end of September 2023, the Oudheidkundig Streekmuseum Alphen has offered a museum app that can be accessed at the museum entrance via a QR code. The municipality of Alphen-Chaam has 28 national monuments, including several historic country estates. The Grafheuvel south of Alphen is a municipal archaeological monument. Alphen-Chaam has a cycle route along the municipality’s monuments. The NH Church at Dorpsstraat 1 in Chaam is a national monument.

Orientation

The ’t Zand recreational area is located in the forests of Alphen, on the outskirts of Gilze. It includes forest, grassland, heathland and fens and can be visited between sunrise and sunset. The ’t Zand bus stop is 400 metres from the recreational area.

Further local pages within the immediate area lead to Chaam, Alphen and Galder. Further destinations can be found at Valkenswaard, Drimmelen, Oisterwijk, Roosendaal and Bergeijk.

For the higher-level travel overview: North Brabant.