Holiday apartment in Heeze-Leende: Nature, culture and trails

Heeze-Leende combines extensive heathlands, historic sites and trails through varied natural landscapes. Strabrechtse Heide covers approximately 1,850 hectares, 1,600 hectares of which are managed by Staatsbosbeheer. It includes Beuven, which Staatsbosbeheer describes as the largest fen in the Netherlands. Near Heeze, there is also a green-marked walking trail around De Plaetse that is suitable for wheelchair users.

Nature

In Leenderbos, the landscape continues with another part of the De Groote Heide nature border park. There are walking and cycling paths, play meadows and picnic areas. A special geological feature is Klein Hasselven: the pingo remnant has an island of living raised bog in its centre, surrounded by a narrow ring of water.

The larger De Groote Heide area can also be reached by public transport. It can be explored by train via the stations at Heeze, Maarheeze, Hamont and Neerpelt. Buses from Eindhoven and Valkenswaard take visitors close to various nature areas. Nearby is Achelse Kluis on the border between Leende and Hamont-Achel; it can be visited during a walking or cycling tour. There you will find the free, interactive De Groote Heide experience and information centre about the region’s history, nature and abbey beer.

Culture and history

Heeze is home to Sint Victor, a wind-powered grain mill dating from 1852. It is open to the public by appointment. St. Petrus' Bandenkerk has an organ in a Neo-Gothic case, built in 1863 by the Mechelen organ builder Loret. Another place of worship is Sint Martinuskerk in Heeze. It was built in 1932 from hand-moulded bricks and follows the Early Gothic style of the 12th century. Its furnishings include stained-glass windows depicting the twelve apostles from the former church. It also contains a replica of the old image of Saint Job, before which candles are lit every day.

Heeze Castle is one of the most significant Rijksmonumenten in the Netherlands. The castle, completely surrounded by a moat, lies in a natural landscape near Strabrechtse Heide. Its furnishings, many of which date from the 18th century, have largely been preserved over the centuries.

Leenderstrijp is classified as a village with valuable cultural and historical significance, known as a kransakker village. Its centre lies between Strijperstraat and Hoogeindseweg. In Leende, ’t Brouwershuis opened as a brewery in 1815 and produced beer for more than a century. Local tradition also includes Brokmop, a cube-shaped anise pastry from Leende, baked by local bakers according to a tradition dating back to before the Second World War.

Trails and activities

The poetry plaque network includes walking routes of 6.5 to 10.3 kilometres, as well as a 28-kilometre cycling route through Heeze, Leende, Leenderstrijp and Sterksel. Workshops and activities in Heeze-Leende include pottery-making, walks with a forester, gnome trails and cooking classes in a cooking studio.

Haviksoord Golf Club is also located in Leende. It was expanded from nine to 18 holes in 2006. The newer holes are situated entirely in existing woodland and make use of the existing landscape, giving the course a natural character.

Traditions and places of remembrance

Brabantsedag takes place in Heeze every year on the last Sunday in August. Sixteen house-high floats parade through the streets, accompanied by theatre, music and performances involving more than 2,000 participants. In 2013, Brabantsedag was added to the Netherlands’ National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

In Sterksel, the permanent art trail “Prikkels en Tintelingen”, just under two kilometres long, runs across the former Providentia site. The narrow-gauge railway monument there consists of a 15-metre section of track with an information panel and commemorates a former four-kilometre railway line. D’n Os plays an important role in Sterksel’s carnival celebrations every year.

Geographical location

Heeze can be reached by train; the railway lines run towards Weert and Eindhoven. Public transport in Heeze and Leende is operated by the Bravo bus company. For further local pages, the direct links lead to Leende, Sterksel and Heeze.

For the overview of the wider destination: North Brabant.

More destinations

More places in the same destination:

Haaren, Bladel, Oisterwijk, Waalre, Schijndel.