Discover Herpen: Nature, History and Holiday Apartments

A holiday apartment in Herpen takes you to a place where nature experiences, traces of history and diverse routes are all closely intertwined. Herpen therefore provides an interesting setting for a stay in which you can choose between forests, bodies of water, cultural history and active excursions.

Holiday Apartment in Herpen Amid Nature and History

Herperduin is part of the Maashorst nature area and covers approximately 400 hectares. Originally, the area consisted of heathland and shifting sands. From the late 19th century onwards, Scots pines were planted in Herperduin to stabilize the shifting-sand area and provide pitwood. This development gives the landscape a special historical dimension that is now combined with the area's natural diversity.

The bodies of water also tell the story of different landscape phases. The Hamelspoel, also known as Putwiel, was originally an old riverbed of the Meuse. Today, it forms an elongated body of water northeast of the village of Herpen and is part of the Hertogswetering. Ganzenven, also known as Groot Ganzenven, lies in the middle of the area. It is a dynamic body of water that dries out completely during dry periods and fills up again during wetter periods.

Active Experiences in Herperduin

At the Speelbos Herperduin / Docus de Das, you can climb and scramble through the forest. The Docus de Das badger climbing structure is six metres high, 33 metres long and 23 metres wide. The Herperduin observation tower is just under 25 metres high and has seven staircases. Information panels there focus on the cultural history of the area visible from the tower.

Churches, Castle and Koolwijk Chapel

St. Sebastianus Church in Herpen is a Rijksmonument, a listed national heritage monument, and one of the best-preserved Gothic churches in Brabant. Herpen already had a castle in the 12th century and was the main town of the former Land van Herpen. The history of flood protection can also be seen at the Erfdijk: it was originally an inland dike of the Beerse Overlaat and protected Herpen from flooding.

Koolwijk Chapel belonged to the parish of Herpen and was the destination of an annual pilgrimage. Church accounts from 1524 already mention it as “capella S. Anne in Coelwyck”. The Anna Feast is held at the chapel every year on 26 July or on the first Sunday thereafter.

Cycling Routes with Different Starting Points

For cyclists, the Fietstocht Vorstenroute offers a route of approximately 40 kilometres that runs mostly along the cycle-node network. It starts near Schaijkseweg 3, 5373 KL Herpen; parking is available there. The “de Maas als vriend en vijand” Oost cycling route from Herpen runs almost entirely along the cycle-node network and starts at Schaijkseweg 3, 5373 KL Herpen, where parking is also available. The Kijkuit cycling route via Herperduin and the Hemelrijkse Waard starts at Natuurpoort De Kriekeput in the Herperduin nature area.

You can also discover other places in the same region: Berghem, Oss, Ravenstein, Maren-Kessel, Macharen.

To the overview of the wider destination: Oss.