Holiday apartment in Oisterwijk: forests, fens and culture
Oisterwijk reveals its distinctive character in the Oisterwijkse Bossen en Vennen, the expansive Kampina and cultural sites with surprisingly diverse stories. Between fens, heathlands, mills, historic cemeteries and modern artists’ studios, the municipality presents a varied picture. Longer hiking trails, cycling routes and activities on the water are also among the defining experiences.
Nature
The Oisterwijkse Bossen en Vennen are a varied woodland area with atmospheric fens and hidden heathlands that can be explored on foot. The area provides a habitat for numerous special plants and animals, including clubmoss, bog myrtle, little grebes and tufted ducks. A varied 9.4-kilometre circular hiking trail runs through the landscape along the most beautiful fens. Most of the fens in the Oisterwijkse Bossen en Vennen were formed after the last Ice Age.
Southeast of Oisterwijk lies Kampina, covering an area of 1,535 hectares. At the centre of the area is Kampinase Heide, including Belversven, Huisvennen and Zandbergsvennen. Visitors are free to hike throughout Kampina; the area can be accessed via Kapelweg (N624) between Oisterwijk and Boxtel. Birdwatching shelters are available at Meeuwenven and Ganzenven, as well as an observation tower at Meeuwenven.
From Natuurpoort Bezoekerscentrum Oisterwijk, you can hike and cycle through the Oisterwijkse Bossen en Vennen and Kampina. The visitor centre also offers treasure hunts, indoor and outdoor nature experiences, and children’s parties in nature.
Hiking and cycling
A 250-kilometre long-distance hiking trail is divided into twelve stages of approximately 20 kilometres each. Stage 1 runs from Oisterwijk to Boxtel, and Stage 12 from Hilvarenbeek to Oisterwijk. Stages 12 and 13 pass through Haaren, Heukelom, Moergestel and Oisterwijk. Another route through the municipality is the Caminoroute, which follows the Essche Stroom, crosses Kampina and passes through the Dal van de Beerze.
The Oisterwijkse Fiets- en Wandelproeverij combines hiking routes through the forests, fens and estates of Oisterwijk and Moergestel with culinary breaks at various restaurants and cafés. Around Moergestel, there are beautiful hiking and cycling routes through the Moergestels Broek nature area. Canoeing is possible on the river near Moergestel.
Culture
The Europees Keramisch Werkcentrum, or EKWC for short, is an international artist-in-residence centre. Artists, designers and architects from all over the world temporarily work and live there. Guided tours of the workshop are offered on Thursdays at 1:30 p.m.; groups of at least eight people can also join a tour at other times by reservation. The EKWC shop sells ceramics, including authentic ceramic bowls from Oisterwijk in the colours of the forests and fens, as well as ceramic artworks by various artists.
Natuurtheater Oisterwijk was built more than 50 years ago based on the model of monumental Roman amphitheatres and offers weekly open-air performances in summer. Landgoed en Kasteel Nemerlaer frequently hosts cultural and public activities such as exhibitions, workshops and concerts. Landgoed en Kasteel Nemerlaer was originally a medieval castle on an extensive estate; the castle avenues lead to the road from Oisterwijk to Boxtel.
Kerkhovense Molen offers educational tours. The mill and vegetable garden are also accessible to people with reduced mobility and wheelchair users. Grain is still milled weekly at Kerkhovense Molen; the mill shop sells flour, regional products and vegetables from its own garden.
History
The centre of Oisterwijk is a listed historic area in its entirety and includes historic sights such as the centuries-old lime tree, the Trouwlaantje and the oldest house in Oisterwijk. The old lime tree is at least 650 years old and was voted the Dutch Tree of the Year in 2023.
The Jewish cemetery of Oisterwijk was already the site of the burial of a Jewish resident of Oisterwijk in 1748. The cemetery is considered one of the oldest and best-preserved Jewish cemeteries in the Netherlands. From 1916 to 2000, the KVL factory was once Europe’s largest leather factory and is now a creative craft hub.
Getting there and information
Oisterwijk has its own NS railway station, bus connections to Tilburg, ’s-Hertogenbosch and Best, and an OV-Fiets bicycle rental service at the station. The Tourist Info provides information about Oisterwijk and the surrounding area, including cycling and hiking routes, route maps and guided tours.
More local information can be found on the pages for Moergestel and Oisterwijk.
For the higher-level travel overview: North Brabant.
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