Discover holiday accommodation in Boekel: culture, trails and history

Boekel combines historic buildings, memories of the development of psychiatric care, and routes for walkers and cyclists. The different themes give you the opportunity to shape your stay according to your interests: with cultural history, active routes, or a closer look at the landscape and former borders.

Cultural history between church, museum and mill

The Church of St Agatha in Boekel was built in 1925 in the Amsterdam School style, based on a design by architect J. Franssen. Huize Padua is home to Museum De Kluis, located in the estate’s oldest building. The museum presents the development of psychiatric care through a timeline with texts and images. The history of the Brothers Penitents is also part of this subject area: they later devoted themselves to caring for people with mental illnesses and were the first Dutch congregation to focus on psychiatry.

Another historic building is the enclosed post mill at Julianastraat 3 in Boekel. It dates from the mid-17th century and was restored in 1960. Together with the church and the themes covered by Museum De Kluis, it offers different ways to explore the town’s past, without culture enthusiasts having to limit their days to a single era.

Hiking and cycling with different distances

For cycling, there is the “Fietsen door het Boekel, Venhorst en Huize Padua van nu én toen” route. It is approximately 30 km long, passes through Boekel, Venhorst and Huize Padua, and explores national and municipal monuments as well as traces of the region’s past.

Several hikes also include Huize Padua. The eighth stage of the Brabants Kloosterpad is a 22.5 km hike from Huize Padua and Museum De Kluis in Boekel to Missieklooster Heilig Bloed in Aarle-Rixtel. The seventh stage is 29 km long and leads from the Karmelklooster in Boxmeer to Huize Padua in Boekel. The “Kloosterrondwandeling Boekel en Handel” circular walk starts at Huize Padua.

The stated route lengths help you compare hiking and cycling days by distance and determine the pace you want for your stay.

Landmeerse Loop and border history

The Landmeerse Loop is a largely artificial stream. At the end of the 18th century, it served as a boundary stream between the Lordship of Gemert and the Land van Ravenstein. At Huize Padua, the Landmeerse Loop forms the boundary between the municipalities of Boekel and Gemert-Bakel. This connects the landscape theme with a tangible view of historical and present-day administrative boundaries.

Choose accommodation that matches your travel interests

If you are considering a holiday apartment in Boekel or a holiday home as accommodation, the mix of activities you want for your days can guide your choice of location. Culture enthusiasts will find a range of subjects in the church, mill, museum and Huize Padua; routes and stages for active days include an approximately 30 km cycling route, the eighth stage at 22.5 km, the seventh stage at 29 km, and the “Kloosterrondwandeling Boekel en Handel” circular walk.

For more travel ideas, you can also discover Venhorst.

To the main travel overview: Boekel.