Holiday apartment in Eersel – Discover the village character, monuments and nature trails
Eersel combines a protected village character with traces of history, varied trails and nature areas in the nearby and wider surroundings. The area around the market square is designated as a nationally protected village character area. Between the market square, villages, churches and landscapes, there are numerous opportunities for days when culture and outdoor activities go hand in hand.
Culture and history
A prominent historical landmark stands in Steensel: the tower of St Lucia is the surviving remnant of the medieval St Lucia Church from the late 14th century. The tower houses a bell dating from 1495. It can be climbed by prior arrangement.
The approximately 33-kilometre monument route is based on the cycle node network, can be started at any point and adapted individually. It passes a special selection of more than 120 monuments in the municipality of Eersel. Along the route are churches, chapels, vicarages, atmospheric village centres and the Omroepsteen in Eersel, among other sights.
A guided circular walk around the historic market square is available. It covers the Acht Zaligheden, the Teuten and the cigar industry, as well as places such as the little church, the Maria Chapel, the water pump, the Boterlinde and the Contente Mens.
The Kempenmuseum is housed in an authentic long-gabled farmhouse dating from 1890. It presents life in the Brabant Kempen around a century ago and shows how the lives of the Kempen’s poor smallholder residents changed over a period of 100 years, including through smuggling, cigar making and entrepreneurship. Since 1 February, the museum has been temporarily closed to the public. However, coach tour operators can book three routes, while small groups can book the Panberg or Smuggling Walk. Reopening is expected at the end of September or beginning of October.
The local association and religious heritage also reach far back. There are eight guild associations in the municipality of Eersel. These include the Wintelre Guild, first mentioned in 1320, and the Vessem Guild, first recorded in 1398. De Veste in Duizel is a former Roman Catholic vicarage surrounded by a moat and stone gate pillars. It was built in 1754 and remodelled in 1871. The historic church tower of Duizel is the surviving remnant of the medieval St Jan de Doper Church, which was demolished in 1927.
At the AART MUSEUM in Knegsel, artist Aart de Lange Pzn presents symbolic realism; the artist himself is present there. Admission is free, and the museum is open daily by appointment. The Lambertuskerk in Vessem regularly hosts concerts in various musical genres, including classical and chamber music concerts.
Nature and trails
The De Kleine Beerze nature area in Vessem features a landscape of winding streams, green meadows and quiet paths. It also includes a woodland garden, a vegetable garden, a beach, a swallow wall and an observation tower. East of Vessem, the “Around the Rietven” route also runs across Rietven and Doodsberg, through woodland and past the remains of the Leeuwerik-Hoeve and a geological monument.
Natuurpoort TerSpegelt offers walking trails from 2 to 7 kilometres, route planning via walking nodes, an off-leash dog walk, a fitness trail and an accessible walking route. The site is also a starting point for exploring the Brabant Kempen, the forest and the Cartierheide on foot or by bicycle. A gnome trail, various mountain bike routes and an equestrian trail also start there.
In the wider regional area lies the signposted TOP Cartierheide nature walking route. It is 6.5 kilometres long and follows numbered node signs. The Cartierheide comprises wet heathland, birch carr woodland and bog myrtle scrub. Round-leaved sundew and marsh gentian grow there, among other plants; smooth snakes, sand lizards, slow worms and moor frogs also live there.
Further natural highlights can be found near Wintelre. Grootmeer and Kleinmeer are naturally formed heath ponds in higher-lying terrain. In spring, thousands of toads, frogs and salamanders travel from the forest to the ponds and back. Seven amphibian tunnels were built beneath the Merenweg in 2009 and 2010. Bosschuur De Meren in Wintelre is a starting point for woodland walks featuring a play forest, a barefoot path and a gnome forest for children.
Traditions and regional trails
A special historical tradition dates back to 1661: since then, people from Eersel have travelled to Werbeek in Belgium on the last Saturday of June to honour Maria ter Sneeuw. A pilgrimage route relating to Vessem follows part of Pelgrimspad Part 2, an approximately 250-kilometre network of walking routes through the landscapes of Brabant and Limburg.
Dauwtrappen in Eersel is an old tradition held on Ascension Day. Early in the morning, around 6 a.m., the Koninklijke Harmonie De Goede Hoop marches through the streets with wind and percussion instruments and wakes the village.
Practical information point
The Visit Eersel Information Point helps visitors find walking and cycling routes, learn about local events and discover local products. For further exploration of the area, direct routes lead to Eersel, Vessem and Steensel.
For the higher-level travel overview: North Brabant.
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