Etten-Leur: Discover Van Gogh, Culture and Nature

With one ticket, you gain access to the Van Gogh Experience at the Van Gogh Church and the Sint Paulushofje Museum. The Van Gogh Experience is a 20-minute multimedia show featuring life-size projections and immersive sound. The Van Gogh Church also houses a replica of Vincent van Gogh’s first studio. The Etten-Leur Zuid cycling route starts at the same Van Gogh Church.

Culture

The Sint Paulushofje at the Markt in the centre of Etten-Leur was founded in 1681. Around thirteen houses are situated around a small square with a water pump in the middle.

The Trouwkerkje is a Rijksmonument dating from 1614. The Sint-Lambertuskerk in the centre of Etten-Leur is a neo-Gothic cross basilica.

The Bisschopsmolen was built in 1744 for the Bishop of Antwerp.

The municipal carillon in Etten-Leur’s town hall tower has 49 bells. Every Wednesday, it plays during the weekly market from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

At the van Osch Museum, you can see engines and steam engines in operation. There is also a large library with old study books and documents.

The Beeldig Etten-Leur cycling route passes a selection of 36 works of art distributed throughout Etten-Leur. The Kerken en kapellen in Etten-Leur route passes six churches and chapels in Etten-Leur.

The Molenroute Etten-Leur passes three mills: Korenmolen de Lelie, the Bisschopsmolen and the Zwartbergse Molen.

The three themed routes differ in their specific paths: Beeldig Etten-Leur passes 36 works of art, Kerken en kapellen passes six churches and chapels, and the Molenroute passes three mills. The walking routes, on the other hand, lead through farmland, forests, fields and the Kelsdonk/Zwermlaken nature area.

The first motorised aircraft take-off in the Netherlands took place in 1909 on the southern outskirts of Etten-Leur. A replica of the Wright Flyer was unveiled in 2009 to commemorate 100 years of aviation in the Netherlands. It is the world’s largest Wright Flyer monument and rests on a six-metre-high steel pole.

Geographical setting

Etten-Leur NS railway station is about a ten-minute walk from Van Gogh Etten-Leur.

Walking and nature

The Van Gogh National Park Etten-Leur walking route is 14 kilometres long, 98 per cent of which follows unpaved paths.

The route leads through farmland and rough fields with characteristic pollard willows, through forests, and along ponds, streams and picturesque fen areas.

The green Laarzenpad trail in the Kelsdonk/Zwermlaken nature area starts at Windgat, is 3.5 kilometres long and can be walked year-round.

In the wider surrounding region of Etten-Leur lies the 706-hectare Pannenhoef nature area, between Etten-Leur, Zundert, Rijsbergen and Sprundel.

Water and routes

De Turfvaart connects a marina, a swimming lake and a play area with a beach volleyball court and basketball hoops. SUP boards can be rented at De Turfvaart in Etten-Leur.

The Van Gogh Etten-Leur Zuid cycling route starts at the Van Gogh Church.

For the main travel overview: Etten-Leur.