Holiday rental in Geldrop-Mierlo: heathland, mills and culture

Geldrop-Mierlo combines extensive natural areas with mills, museums, churches and distinctive trails. The two directly associated towns, Mierlo and Geldrop, bring together different facets: heathland and forest reserves, textile industrial history, historic buildings and routes that link the landscape with local history.

Nature

Strabrechtse Heide is a natural area of approximately 1,500 hectares, part of which lies in Geldrop-Mierlo. Visitors have access to most of the heathland, where walking, cycling and horse riding are permitted as quiet forms of recreation. Another large natural area is Sang en Goorkens, an approximately 122-hectare nature reserve in Mierlo. Several walking trails have been opened in the Sang en Goorkens nature area through cooperation between the municipality and nature and water organisations.

Het Sang is also part of this natural area. It is an approximately 15-hectare scientific forest reserve with very old alder carr woodland that already existed before 1800. In the Dal van de Kleine Dommel in Geldrop, a walk leads to views over the water. Thus, alongside the open heathland, the landscape also focuses on forest, wetlands and a waterside walking route.

Trails and routes

For shorter walks through the landscape, there is the Bosroute, a 2.5-kilometre circular route through the forest behind Geldrop. Part of the route is designed as a wheelchair-accessible trail. At 20 kilometres, the Fietsroute Kleine IJsvogelvlinder is considerably longer; it passes waterscapes, parks, meadows and village gardens.

The 25-kilometre cycling route Het Mysterie van de Venus van Mierlo also follows a clear historical theme and passes various locations connected with the Venus story. The Fietsrondje Geldrop-Mierlo runs across heathland and through forests, passing sheep and monumental buildings along the way.

Culture and history

At the Weverijmuseum Geldrop, the textile history of Geldrop-Mierlo in the 19th and 20th centuries can be experienced in a modern and audiovisual way. The museum is located in a former factory for the production of woollen fabrics. Cultuurcentrum Weeffabriek in Geldrop offers a different cultural focus: it is a theatre, cinema and music venue in one, and also offers creative courses.

The Heilige Brigidakerk is a Neo-Romanesque-Gothic church designed by Carl Weber. It was built around 1890, and its towers are 71 metres high. Visitors can enter the church for a visit without prior registration or arrange a guided tour.

Kasteel Geldrop was built in 1350. The grounds include an English landscape garden, a petting zoo, a sensory garden and the Bloemenhof. In the castle, visitors can walk through the grand corridors and regularly visit exhibitions. In Mierlo, Kunstzaal Dommeldal presents exhibitions throughout the year by professional and semi-professional artists, most of whom come from the region.

An unusual trace reaching far back into the past is the Venus van Mierlo, also known as the Danseresje van Geldrop. It is a human figure engraved into a stone; the find is dated to approximately 13,000 years ago.

Mills and regional tradition

Standerdmolen Mierlo was built around 1640 as a bann mill, also known as a compulsory mill. It is open for visits almost every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; a miller explains how the mill works to visitors. At ’t Nupke, grain is still traditionally milled into various types of flour, and the mill can be visited free of charge.

In Mierlo, Speeltuin de Molenheide complements several play structures with a viewpoint connected to the former mill. There is also a ten-metre-high mill outline on the Molenberg. Eindhoven Zoo is likewise located in Mierlo. There, visitors can see animals, watch feedings and learn about animals during shows.

In the surrounding area

The castles in the vicinity of the Municipality of Geldrop-Mierlo include Heeze, Kasteel Helmond and Kasteel Croy. The Van Abbe museum and Nunens Broek park are also located there.

Further destinations in the surrounding region: Waalre, Best, Eindhoven, Roosendaal, Lith, Hilvarenbeek.

For the higher-level travel overview: North Brabant.