Holiday Apartment in Valkenswaard: Nature, Culture and Special Experiences

Valkenswaard combines the heathland of De Malpie with an unusually diverse cultural history. Numerous different facets are found close together among fens, museums, historic buildings, markets and signposted paths. At the centre is Valkenswaard itself – with activities for hikers, cyclists, horse riders, culture enthusiasts and anyone interested in local traditions.

Nature

The De Malpie nature reserve has extensive heathland with numerous large and small fens. There are sand drifts at Groot Malpieven. East of the Dommel lie the Malpiebeemden, with small areas of grassland, swamp forests and marshes. This landscape is also home to a bat cellar inhabited by brown long-eared bats and whiskered bats.

The Ommetje Malpie circular trail passes through De Malpie. The approximately 6.2-kilometre hiking route runs mostly along unpaved paths. Its starting point is the Malpie car park; from there, the trail follows the signposted hiking junctions marked with green-and-yellow signs. The hiking junction network of De Groote Heide also allows hikes in and around Valkenswaard from one junction to the next. Horse riders and carriages have access to a well-signposted network of dedicated paths.

Culture

A prominent cultural focus is the Nederlands Steendrukmuseum. It presents the historical, artistic and technical aspects of lithography. The collection includes lithographs, cartography, book illustrations and advertising posters. The museum also offers introductory lithography workshops: under instruction, participants print using a traditional lithographic press.

The museum can be reached from Eindhoven railway station by bus routes 317 or 318 in the direction of Valkenswaard. From the Valkenierstraat stop, it is within walking distance. Another historical perspective is provided by the Valkerij Museum, which presents the history of falconry from 1650 to 1850. The Oude Raadhuis contains a tile tableau depicting the last falcon hunt in Valkenswaard. The building is currently used by “de Kunstkeuken”, a gallery featuring various works of art.

The history of vehicles is also visible: the Rijtuigenmuseum Valkenswaard has a diverse collection of carriages. It offers nostalgic carriage rides with a coachman, which can be extended to include a picnic, champagne reception, dinner or barbecue. The Weerderhuys is a neo-Gothic Dutch Reformed church built in 1890.

History

The corso tradition is one of the town’s distinctive traditions. Bloemencorso Valkenswaard is an annual parade featuring twelve large floats decorated with dahlias. It passes through the centre of Valkenswaard on the third Sunday in September. In 2021, the corso tradition of Valkenswaard was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

A different development is recounted by the Sigarenmakerij Museum. It presents the development of cigar production in Valkenswaard from 1865 until its decline. On display is an extensive collection of traditional tools, machines, photographs, packaging and a historic cigar shop. By arrangement, groups can take part in a cigar-making workshop.

Birkenhof Bunker was built from late 1942 onwards to house an interception service. More than half of the building was designed as a bunker with metre-thick walls and a metre-thick roof. The Liberation Route Brabant passes through Valkenswaard and is intended for cyclists and hikers.

Getting Around

Natuurpoort De Malpie is a starting point for hikes, cycling tours, canoe trips and excursions on horseback. This means that various modes of transport are represented in the surrounding landscape. In Valkenswaard, activities are available on foot, on horseback, by bicycle, on the water and at height. The coexistence of hiking junctions, horse-riding and carriage routes, and activities on the water defines the range of local experiences.

Local Life

A weekly market with 75 stalls takes place at Valkenswaard’s market every Thursday from 09:00 to 17:00. A seasonal addition is the MolenMarkt at the mill in Borkel & Schaft. It features food, drinks, local products and entertainment. The event takes place from May to September on the first Saturday of each month, from 10:00 to 16:00.

The regional history also includes the Dommelsche Bierbrouwerij, where beer has been brewed since 1744. In Valkenswaard, historic crafts, lively events, museums and landscapes therefore exist side by side. Anyone wishing to compare holiday apartments in Valkenswaard can, before booking, pay particular attention to the exact location, type of accommodation, occupancy, included services, price components, and booking and cancellation conditions for each offer.

For the broader travel overview: North Brabant.

More Destinations

More places within the same destination:

Hilvarenbeek, Sint-Michielsgestel, Loon Op Zand, Goirle, Oirschot, Maasdonk, Sint Anthonis.