Gemert-Bakel: Heathland, History and Village Life

Gemert-Bakel combines diverse landscapes, historic village centres and special excursion destinations. If you choose a holiday apartment in Gemert-Bakel, you can tailor your stay to your own interests: between heathland and forest, churches and castles, cycling routes, water-based activities and attractions for children.

Nature between Heathland, Forest and Water

Beestenveld and Klotterpeel comprise historic forest avenues, the Koordekanaal, the Beestenveldse Loop, ponds and heathland. The paths and trails in both areas are accessible year-round between sunrise and sunset. The landscape is therefore suitable both for quiet nature observations and for walks where different landscape elements follow one another in quick succession.

The Bakelse Plassen feature wet and dry heathland with round-leaved sundew, bell heather, ling heather and bog clubmoss. Sand lizards and moor frogs live there. The shores and waters of the Bakelse Plassen have developed into an area particularly rich in birds; Daubenton's bats also live there. The Nederheide estate complements this natural setting with extensive forests, heathland, drifting sands and plenty of natural water.

Natuurcentrum De Specht also provides a habitat for special birds and insects. The Breukenpad De Specht runs past the nature centre and is part of the Peelhorst en Maasvallei Geopark. The history of the landscape also reaches far back: after the division of the Bakelse Peel in 1864, the municipality of Bakel at the time acquired the approximately 362-hectare Beestenveld area as its property. The De Groote Slink estate in Elsendorp was laid out in the English landscape style between 1910 and 1917.

Culture, Churches and Historic Traces

At the Boerenbondsmuseum, you can experience life in a Brabant village around 1900. Craft buildings regularly showcase traditional crafts. During the museum season, from March through November inclusive, the museum organises themed activities every Sunday. In Milheeze stands De Laurentia, an octagonal post mill built in 1892. Molen De Volksvriend was built in 1888 as a stone windmill for milling grain and bark.

Gemert itself brings together several prominent reminders of history. Kasteel Gemert is an old castle in the centre of Gemert and is listed among the Rijksmonumenten. Construction began in 1391 on the orders of Commander Hendrik Reinaart van Husen; the castle was inhabited by knights of the Teutonic Order. The Kerk Sint Jans Onthoofding is closely associated with the Teutonic Order. The Kasteel van Gemert next to the church was the order's headquarters in Gemert, while the church dates from 1437.

The Latijnse School, which opened in 1587, is also part of the historic village setting. The former building is now used as the historic information centre „De Latijnse School“, in cooperation with the Gemert-Bakel municipal archive and the local history association „De Kommanderij Gemert“. In Handel, the chapel of the Kerk Onze Lieve Vrouw van Handel was founded around 1220. The Processiepark Handel behind the chapel contains the spring associated with it. The church has long been regarded as an important pilgrimage site.

Other religious destinations can be found in the surrounding area: Esdonks Kapelleke remains a pilgrimage site for Mary Magdalene and is considered the only pilgrimage site of its kind in the Netherlands. A large open-air mass is celebrated there every Good Friday. A church has stood on the grounds of the Sint Willibrorduskerk in Bakel since 721. The Sint Willibrorduskerk is a Rijksmonument, and its tower dates from the 16th century. You can find visual art at Kunst op Locatie in the KunstLokaal exhibition space, where artists from Gemert-Bakel can present their work to the public.

Cycling Routes, Walks and Experiences for Children

Gemert-Bakel has numerous cycling, walking and mountain-bike routes through nature reserves and village centres, as well as along historic landmarks. The Zeven dorpenroute Gemert-Bakel is 48.2 kilometres long and connects seven villages. Printed cycling routes for Gemert-Bakel are available from the VVV at Ridderplein in Gemert. Natuurpoort Nederheide serves as a starting point, resting place and endpoint for walks and cycling tours through the De Stippelberg nature reserve.

When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home, you can therefore focus your stay on active routes, nature observation or cultural destinations. At Natuurbad Nederheide, a sandy beach and a lawn provide opportunities for swimming and sunbathing. The Heerlijck Hopveld garden of VELT Gemert is freely accessible for walks seven days a week.

Families will find an adventure trail for children at Jubelpad in De Rips, featuring the goblin Jubel and his forest friends. Signs with QR codes along the route provide information about goblin Jubel and his woodland animals and include tasks for children. The Vlindersafari in Gemert presents butterflies from around the world in an exotically planted garden setting and offers guided group visits with an introduction and tour of the butterfly garden.

Regional Specialities

Regional experiences can also be included in your plans. Boerderij Op Den Hoek in De Mortel sells cheese and offers bookable farm tours and cheese tastings. Wijngaard By Ypma in De Rips organises vineyard tours with tastings of white wines such as Peeldorpje cuvee and Jungske. In this way, Gemert-Bakel complements its natural and cultural destinations with insights into local products.

For further orientation, you can also explore the pages on Elsendorp, Handel, Gemert, De Mortel, Bakel, De Rips and Milheeze.

For the higher-level travel overview: North Brabant.

More Destinations

More places within the same destination:

Tilburg.