Holiday apartment in Deurne: nature and culture in the Peel

Deurne is located on the Deurnese Peel, a natural area covering more than 1,400 hectares. The area comprises a central section, De Bult to the north, and the southern sub-areas ’t Zinkske and Heitrakse Peel. Together with the Mariapeel in Limburg, the Deurnese Peel forms a contiguous area of around 2,750 hectares. In Deurne, you will encounter the Peel landscape, a diverse network of routes, and historical and cultural sites.

Nature

On the edge of the Deurnese Peel, Natuurpoort De Peel offers various signposted routes for exploring the area. Natuurpoort De Peel also serves dishes made with regional, fresh-from-the-day products from neighboring farms and from its own butcher’s shop. At the De Ossenbeemd visitor center, a film and an exhibition panel explain the Peelrandbreuk fault. The center also displays soil profiles, characteristic bog iron ore, and clay pipes that served as Deurne’s first water mains. De Ossenbeemd is both a visitor center dedicated to the Peelrandbreuk and a starting point for cycling and walking routes.

The route network in Deurne includes cycling, walking, mountain biking, single-track, and horse-riding routes. Toeristisch Deurne provides route maps for cycling, walking, mountain biking, and horse riding. One specific walking connection is the “Deurne Palet van De Peel” route, with starting points at Deurne’s market square, Deurne railway station, and in the center of Vlierden.

Culture and history

In the center of Deurne stands St Willibrordus Church, a Gothic cruciform church with a west tower dating from around 1200, and a choir and transept dating from around 1460 to 1470. The design of its choir is considered unique in this region. Beneath the high choir is a crypt that has been open to the public since 2005. The Smits organ still contains valuable historical Smits elements dating from 1838. Outside worship services, the church is open daily from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m., except Mondays, from 1 May to 1 November. For a small fee, guided tours of the tower room and vaults are offered at 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. If a church steward is present, the tour also includes a view over Deurne.

Holten’s Molen in Deurne combines three wind-powered functions in one windmill: grain milling, oil pressing, and wood sawing. The mill organizes group excursions and guided tours on request. During group tours, visitors learn about the mill, the oil press, and the sawmill. Another historic site is the Haageind Castle Estate. It comprises two castles with outbuildings, gardens, and parks. Groot Kasteel also has an animal park and an English-style park. The watermill there was restored in 1980 and received a new water wheel in the weir area in 1994.

De Wieger is a museum in Dr. Wiegersma’s house with constantly changing exhibitions; it also offers courses and stage performances. The permanent exhibition includes works by Charley Toorop, Jan Sluijters, Leo Gestel, Theo van Doesburg, Jan Mankes, and Else Berg, among others. Along the Helenavaart canal stand nine monumental so-called Koningshoeves, built between 1908 and 1920.

The history of the surrounding area is also reflected in preserved townscapes. Helenaveen is a protected townscape and can be regarded as the oldest example of planned private peat colonization in the southern Netherlands; its various stages of development are still clearly visible there. Toon Kortooms Park is located where the well-known novelist Toon Kortooms grew up. The park includes a barefoot trail of around 1.5 hectares with various surfaces, as well as a sound trail. Along the route are observation towers, hammocks, benches, tunnels, and huts.

On the way

The Echte-Deurnenaren walking tour, led by a guide from Toeristisch Deurne, visits notable historic places associated with Hendrik Wiegersma, Antoon Coolen, Jules de Corte, and Toon Kortooms.

Other places

You can also visit the destination pages for Helenaveen, Deurne, Liessel, and Neerkant.

To the main travel overview: North Brabant.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Bergen Op Zoom, Aalburg, Boekel, Breda.